Flip The Switch
This April, the university will once again host a Campus Energy Competition!
Join your fellow Bears between April 1st and April 20th to reduce your energy consumption on campus! Below you will find a list of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to get involved (and even win prizes)! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for tips on how you can conserve energy and to stay up to date on the competition and events.
Energy Conservation 101
This free training will provide employees with information about the importance of conserving energy on campus and at home. You will learn simple strategies to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. We will also cover the hot topic of renewable energy.
Energy Conservation Social Media Challenge
Take a picture of the one thing you commit to do to conserve energy in April. Post your picture on Instagram to be entered to win gift cards to local restaurants and more! Make sure you tag your post with #MSUFlipTheSwitch and @MSUSustain as well as 1 friend!
Innovative Idea Competition
This year we will recognize faculty and staff who go above and beyond during the competition. Submit your innovative idea for a chance to win! Your idea should focus on conserving energy on campus, educating the campus about the importance of energy conservation, or increasing participation in our energy conservation competition. The best individual idea will win BoomerMeals. The best group idea (which could be submitted by your office or department) will win a free lunch party. Winners will receive a recognition award and be also be featured in a blog included in Inside Missouri State. Submit your idea on the sustainability website anytime between April 1st and April 20th!
Get Energy Conservation Certified
Faculty and Staff can make a big impact on campus energy usage by making small changes during the day.
Print out the Faculty/Staff Commitment Poster and place a check next to all the practices you pledge to carry out. There is no minimum, but try to set as many realistic goals as possible! Hang this poster on your office door or window to demonstrate your commitments and encourage others to do the same!
Green Room Certifications - Residence Life
Fill out this quick form to get your Room or Suite, Office, or Residence Hall Front Desk Green Certified! You will receive a badge to hang on your door and other free things.
Lunch Without Lights
For each of the three weeks of the Energy Competition, one dining hall will turn out their lights during lunch to raise awareness about the competition and to save energy!
- April 4th - 8th in Blair Shannon from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- April 11th - 15th in Garst from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- April 18th – 22nd in Kentwood from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tips to Conserve Energy
- Unplug everything not in use
- Set computer monitors to sleep after 5 minutes (or less) of inactivity
- Adjust the thermostat to conserve energy
- Turn off all the lights when you leave the room
- Unplug electronics as soon as they are finished charging
- Use a power strip and turn it off OR unplug it when not in use
- Shut down computers every night
- Turn off lights in common areas when you leave the room
- Open the blinds during the daytime to make use of natural light
2015 CCN Results
Over the three week competition we reduced our energy usage on campus by 11.1% compared to a baseline prior to the start of competition. Since April 5th, we saved 135,816 kWh ($8,149). We also averted 255,480 pounds of carbon dioxide.
The winner of the Academic Building Energy Competition is Strong Hall, which reduced energy usage in their building by an impressive 35.8%. Hutchens House took first place in the Residence Hall Energy Competition by reducing energy usage by 10.6%.
Thank you to all of the faculty, staff and students who did their part to save energy on campus and encourage participation in their buildings.