Spring Break
EcoHusky Gears Up For 'Eco-Madness'
Contest Beginning Oct. 1 Will See Which Dorm Can Reduce Energy Use Most
Michelle Firestone
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
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The contest, which has been expanded from one dorm to three, will run from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 in the Northwest, Shippee and Towers dormitories. Residents will compete by lowering their energy and water intake, and the dorm with the greatest reduction will win an ice cream party sponsored by the Department of Residential Life.
Sub-meters are set up throughout campus to measure water usage.
Jessica LaRocca, a 7th-semester environmental bio-chemistry major and intern at EcoHusky is in charge of the Eco-Madness contest. She has been monitoring the sub-meters in Towers, Northwest and Shippee and recording the current data. She will compare this data to the data from the contest to determine which dorm is the winner.
The Eco-Madness contest is returning at a time when there are lingering concerns about the university's water supply. Earlier this month, the water alert level was raised by the university.
According to Richard Miller, director of environmental policy at UConn, the level will remain in effect for now.
"Everything is on hold," Miller said, "We are monitoring the Fenton and Willimantic Rivers on a daily basis by looking at the stream flow gauges."
The has stemmed from a lack of rain. Although one rainstorm would spike the stream flow, environmentalists would need to see a steady rainfall, over the course of at least a day or two, to be able to lower the alert level. The recent change of season will make it much easier for the river to refill.
"As temperatures get cooler, plants take up less water and less water is evaporated out," Miller said. He added that the "demand for water is being reduced" now that it is no longer summer.
The university has made numerous efforts to conserve water. One of the most significant changes was made by Dining Services, who shut off the dishwashers and shifted to disposable utensils and plates in the dining halls for every meal but dinner.
"We estimate that using paper utensils in the dining halls has saved about 30,000 gallons of water a day," Miller said.
There are conflicting opinions about the student's role in the water conservation campaign.
"I think most people understand there are water conservation issues," LaRocca said. However, she doesn't think that students themselves have done a lot to conserve water.
The water conservation alerts at the university have been effective. According to the EcoHusky Web site, campus water consumption was reduced by nearly 150,000 gallons per day due to voluntary measures. Miller believes that students have played a major role in the success of the campaign.
"I think students are very much a part of that reduction," Miller said.
The Eco-Madness contest was designed to encourage students to make water conservation efforts of their own. Tips will be given to students in the participating dorms on how they will go about doing so.
Contact Michelle Firestone at Michelle.Firestone@UConn.edu
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