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Residence halls compete in monthlong Eco-thon

Jan. 27, 2010

KALAMAZOO--A new competition will pit residence halls at Western Michigan University against each other to see who can save the most electricity, WMU President John M. Dunn announced Jan. 27.

The competition, called Eco-thon, begins Feb. 1 and runs the entire month of February. Sponsored jointly by WMU's departments of Facilities Management and Residence Life, it will focus on determining which hall reduces electricity usage by the greatest percentage during the month, compared to a starting baseline.

Chart your hall's progress
WMU Utility Dashboard

The competition will use last fall's average electric consumption as a baseline and compare that to each hall's February numbers. The hall with the greatest percentage reduction wins.

"This is an excellent initiative that Residence Life is excited to be partnering with our colleagues in Facilities Management on," says Steven Palmer, Residence Life director. "The more students are engaged in conservation, the greater impact it will have on WMU as a whole. The students we have talked with about this competition are excited about new and innovative ways to save electricity."

The winning hall will be eligible for a grand prize of up to $500, a commemorative plaque, a tree planted near the winning residence hall, a hall celebration and an awards ceremony the third week of March with WMU officials.

Individual student prizes--totes of goodies valued at more than $100--also will be awarded throughout the competition. Winners will be selected each week from among those who join the Facebook group and become a "fan" of WMU Eco-thon.

Become a fan on Facebook
WMU Eco-thon

"Engaging students in sustainable initiatives like the Eco-thon not only raises overall sustainable awareness and encourages good stewardship practices in our residents, but also saves the University money in utility costs," says Anand Sankey, WMU director of engineering and maintenance. "It's a winning combination for our students, the University and the environment."

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Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

WMU News
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