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Lighting the way to save energy

CC´s energy conservation efforts are evident in this display in "Cro," the student center.

November 17, 2005

What a difference a light bulb can make. If all goes according to plan, more than three quarters of the student body will be using at least one energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) by the end of November.

When all 1,745 resident students are using a CFL in place of a standard incandescent bulb, CC will save nearly $6,400 annually in energy costs and emit less carbon. Replacing one incandescent with a CFL reduces by 300 pounds the amount of coal burned for electricity.

The student-run Renewable Energy Club and the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies purchased 1,000 bulbs for initial distribution. Those efforts will be supplemented by a light bulb exchange through Students Against Violence to the Environment. Savings are based on an estimated four hours use of light per day per academic year.

CFLs use about 70 percent less energy than a standard bulb and last up to 10 times longer.

Energy club members, led by Randy Jones ´06 and Sara Jayanthi ´07 and the house environmental representatives of each student residence, are going door to door, inviting students to exchange their incandescent bulbs for the CFLs.

Along with this effort, the club has purchased 10 vending misers, devices that can be installed on vending machines to power them down when not in use. Seven have so far been installed.

The miser can cut the amount spent on electricity in half. "They put the machines in sleep mode," said Amy Cabaniss, CCBES environmental coordinator, "shutting off the lights but keeping the drinks cold." The misers work best in areas that are least often used.

"We also will get a refund from Connecticut Light & Power for using the devices," said Cabaniss, "which will allow us to reinvest in more misers." Each miser costs the club $75.

The Green Living at Connecticut College Web site chronicles the college´s environmental heritage and its ongoing efforts to maintain and promote environmental sustainability, and includes the "Green Living at Connecticut College Student Handbook," available in PDF format.

For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu