Spring Break
Dorms in Northwest, West win Eco-Madness '09
Alsop and Goodyear take top honors in water and energy savings
News Department
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: News
Goodyear in Northwest and Alsop in West saved the most energy and water respectively during Eco-Madness 2009, a competition between dorms across campus that took place between Sept. 28 and Oct. 25.
Goodyear won with an energy savings of 13.2 percent and Alsop won in the water savings category with a 14.2 percent savings. The two winning dorms will receive Dairy Bar ice cream on Nov. 16 and 17 at celebratory events sponsored by the Office of Environmental Policy and Reslife.
"Students really embraced the practice of conservation, and took steps in their own daily activities to reduce consumption," said Catherine Pomposi, a 7th-semester statistics and environmental science double major and Eco-Madness coordinator.
The purpose of the competition was to save resources as well as promote awareness of excess consumption and its effects environmental and economic effects.
"Many times students are unaware of how much they might be wasting because they never see a bill for water or electricity when living in the dorms," said Pomposi.
"Eco-captains," who are representatives from each building, contributed to promoting consciousness and recognition of the affects of individuals by making posters and signs reminding students how everyday choices effect the total consumption of the building as well as the environment in its totality. Signs reminding them to turn off lights or unplug phone chargers are some examples.
"The majority of the people in my building were all considerate of conservation and all wanted to help," said Goodyear eco-captain Jake Seaman, a 1st-semester ACES major. "We…made sure to turn off any lights we had access to at night because they were of no use. This was a big help in conserving energy."
The competition took place between the buildings of Towers, North and West as well as Shippee and Buckley. Just behind Goodyear in total energy savings were Rogers at 12 percent and Hollister at 11.1 percent. Beecher/Vinton was in second place in water savings at 10.5 percent and Terry was behind with a 7 percent reduction.
"Saving water and keeping greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere are two very pressing, relevant environmental issues worldwide," said Pomposi.
The water used at UConn has assisted in drying up part of the Fenton River during the drier part of the year, according to information on the EcoHusky Web site. Those who use UConn's water contribute to the approximately 1.3 million gallons of water consumed a day from wells near the Fenton and Willimantic Rivers.
In previous years, Eco-Madness has saved up to 20.6 tons of carbon dioxide in 30 days, according to the EcoHusky Web site.
"I'm hoping people in my dorm at least will take the idea of conserving water and energy and keep it going for the remainder of the school year, if not their whole lives," said Seaman.
Goodyear won with an energy savings of 13.2 percent and Alsop won in the water savings category with a 14.2 percent savings. The two winning dorms will receive Dairy Bar ice cream on Nov. 16 and 17 at celebratory events sponsored by the Office of Environmental Policy and Reslife.
"Students really embraced the practice of conservation, and took steps in their own daily activities to reduce consumption," said Catherine Pomposi, a 7th-semester statistics and environmental science double major and Eco-Madness coordinator.
The purpose of the competition was to save resources as well as promote awareness of excess consumption and its effects environmental and economic effects.
"Many times students are unaware of how much they might be wasting because they never see a bill for water or electricity when living in the dorms," said Pomposi.
"Eco-captains," who are representatives from each building, contributed to promoting consciousness and recognition of the affects of individuals by making posters and signs reminding students how everyday choices effect the total consumption of the building as well as the environment in its totality. Signs reminding them to turn off lights or unplug phone chargers are some examples.
"The majority of the people in my building were all considerate of conservation and all wanted to help," said Goodyear eco-captain Jake Seaman, a 1st-semester ACES major. "We…made sure to turn off any lights we had access to at night because they were of no use. This was a big help in conserving energy."
The competition took place between the buildings of Towers, North and West as well as Shippee and Buckley. Just behind Goodyear in total energy savings were Rogers at 12 percent and Hollister at 11.1 percent. Beecher/Vinton was in second place in water savings at 10.5 percent and Terry was behind with a 7 percent reduction.
"Saving water and keeping greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere are two very pressing, relevant environmental issues worldwide," said Pomposi.
The water used at UConn has assisted in drying up part of the Fenton River during the drier part of the year, according to information on the EcoHusky Web site. Those who use UConn's water contribute to the approximately 1.3 million gallons of water consumed a day from wells near the Fenton and Willimantic Rivers.
In previous years, Eco-Madness has saved up to 20.6 tons of carbon dioxide in 30 days, according to the EcoHusky Web site.
"I'm hoping people in my dorm at least will take the idea of conserving water and energy and keep it going for the remainder of the school year, if not their whole lives," said Seaman.
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