Tri-Co Energy Competition Update
In March, the Daily Gazette reported on Earthlust’s “Tri-Co Energy Competition.” The competition, which measured energy consumption in dorms and of the campus in general ended with a win for Willets. Since then, however, more information has been obtained.
According to Earthlust’s Nick Buttino ’09 Swarthmore did defeat Bryn Mawr in the competition, but Haverford conferred with Earthlust about the end results. Despite beating Bryn Mawr, Earthlust has not received a response from Bryn Mawr about the cash prize.
Along with the Tri-Co competition, Swarthmore won third place in a national competition, called the National Campus Energy Challenge, between colleges and universities for which school could reduce energy usage the most between last February and this February. Swarthmore reduced its heating consumption by 31% and electricity by 2%, resulting in an overall reduction of 18%. Swarthmore’s drastic decline in heating energy was due to the fact that “The college used only natural gas for heating this winter, no #6 fuel oil,” according to Steen Hoyer ’09. Due to the fact that natural gas is better for the climate than #6 fuel oil, Hoyer says, “I believe the sustainability committee is going to recommend that the college permanently forswear #6 fuel oil.”
The first two place winners in the competition, Winona State University and St. John’s University, reduced their energy by 27% and 21% respectively.
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#1: 5/7/2008 at 7:53 a.m.
We had a mild winter. What was the effect of that? How did the temperature range between the two winters contrast?
— Maurice | Unregistered, Non-Swarthmore
#2: 5/7/2008 at 8:51 a.m.
I like how there's a "clean" coal ad on the top of this page.
— JJ | Unregistered, Swarthmore
#3: 5/7/2008 at 2:08 p.m.
It's nice to know that the efforts of eccentric college students are actaully making a difference, with the enormous help of the administration. At least students care about energy.
It's always interesting, however, to walk by a trashcan full of soda cans and water bottles when the "cans and bottles" recycle bin right next to it is empty. Not sure what's wrong with people....
— Gerrit | Unregistered, Swarthmore
#4: 5/9/2008 at 5:40 p.m.
I thought we increased energy consumption...
and about "clean coal": http://youtube.com/watch?v=71kckb8hhOQ
— Sarah | Unregistered, Swarthmore