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Connecticut College students reduce energy use in residence halls by 12 percent

April 17, 2007

For immediate release

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Connecticut College students decreased their energy usage in the campus residence halls by 12 percent in the last five months.

The savings, which amount to 108,000 kWh, were the result of a student-led competition among residence halls to reduce the consumption of heating fuel and electricity on campus. The savings was calculated from the five-year average usage for the months between November and March.

In accordance with an agreement between students and the administration, 25 percent of the money saved through conservation will help fund a social event for students this spring.

The meter information was provided by the college's physical plant, calculated by the student Renewable Energy Club and confirmed by the college Environmental Model Committee.

To succeed in the competition, students encouraged their peers to: do bigger loads of laundry; use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs; put computers in sleep mode after 15 minutes, and turn them off at night; turn lights, stereos, chargers, and other electronics off when leaving a room; and not to open windows to counteract heaters.

Ranked among the most selective private liberal arts colleges in the nation, Connecticut College enrolls 1,900 men and women from 43 states and 45 countries. The college is known for putting the liberal arts into action through interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. Founded in 1911, the college operates under an 85-year-old honor code. The college is located at 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, about two hours by car from Boston and New York. The 750-acre campus is an arboretum overlooking Long Island Sound. For more information, visit www.connecticutcollege.edu.

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For media inquiries contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu