Residence Halls Conserve Competitively in Campus Conservation Nationals

Campus Conservation Nationals, a three-week energy reduction competition among campus residence halls, began March 31 at the University of Arkansas. The competition is part of a nationwide effort at colleges and universities worldwide promoting electricity and water reduction.

The U of A Residents’ Interhall Congress will host the competition among its 18 residence halls on campus, including Duncan Avenue Apartments between March 31 and April 20. The residence hall that reduces its utility consumption the most during that timeframe wins a hydration station and bragging rights until next year’s competition.

Campus Conservation Nationals provides students and staff a chance to host educational events that have a meaningful influence on their school’s carbon emissions and campus sustainability efforts.

The U of A has publicized its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2040. Campus Conservation Nationals, now in its second year, is one of many efforts to make progress toward this goal.

Last year’s competition had different weekly themes such as “Ready, Set, Reduce,” “Do It in the Dark,” and “Phantom Power.”

“There was a theme for each week of the competition that promoted certain actions and behaviors to engage residents,” said Carlos Ochoa, director of the U of A office for sustainability.

Lauren Hake, RIC director of sustainability, said the competition helps create awareness about the simple ways to reduce energy in hopes of encouraging behavioral changes among campus residents.

This year, 400 T-shirts will be passed out at the Arkansas Union to advertise, promote the competition and educate U of A students about the competition. The residence hall with the greatest reduction in energy per capita will be awarded a hydration station.

“This [reduction] can be done by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, turning off lights when you leave a room, unplugging appliances when they are not in use, and many other ways,” said Hake.

The U of A’s goals related to sustainability can only be accomplished if residents, students and staff come together to reduce energy consumption, said Ochoa.

“The University of Arkansas wants to become carbon-neutral by mid-century. Technology can be an important tool to help us achieve our goals, but a change in people’s behavior is just as significant. It’s up to the individuals to make a conscious decision to reduce their energy consumption for the betterment of our environment and our society,” said Ochoa.

For more information on ways to get involved, students can check out the Campus Conservation Nationals website at competetoreduce.org.