Solving the Problem of Student Energy Consumption: An Energy Competition for Allegheny College

Conroy, Abby

Solving the Problem of Student Energy Consumption: An Energy Competition for Allegheny College

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/8106

Author(s)

Conroy, Abby

Date Issued

January 16, 2010

Abstract

As a charter signatory of the ACUPCC, Allegheny College has been contractually committed to reaching carbon neutrality since April 2007. Part of that commitment required the college to complete a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. Based on that inventory, it was realized that student energy consumption was a major contributor to GHG emissions. In order to counteract the effects of student energy consumption this senior comprehensive project designed and ran Allegheny College’s first dorm energy competition. The competition was divided into two main parts, the first occurring while classes were in session, encouraging students to actively reduce consumption. The second part occurred over Thanksgiving break and focused on reducing phantom draws. Results of the competition were mixed with the biggest reducer of the first half saving just under 30% of their baseline and the biggest user consuming more than 50% over their baseline. Average reductions in the second part of the competition were around 40%. This competition provided insight into effective and ineffective strategies for encouraging student energy conservation. The competition was considered a success but in order to improve the results, methods have been suggested for future competitions.

First Reader(s)

Pallant, Eric T.