2008 Woodie Awards
'Turn it off' helps CMU save money
Green signs remind students, faculty to shut lights off
By: Brad Canze
Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: News
Facilities Management is hoping a friendly reminder will help cut down energy costs at the university.
In an effort to get students and faculty to turn off lights that are not in use, workers started placing green signs that said "turn it off" on light switches in classroom buildings during winter break.
"We're trying to encourage people, when they leave the room, to turn off the lights," said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of facilities management. "It's just a way to try to reduce our cost and conserve electricity."
Facilities Management began the "Turn It Off" campaign after surveying four classroom buildings and finding 64 to 90 percent of classroom lights left on after 10:30 p.m.
With more than 300 classrooms on campus and an electrical budget of $4.9 million, Lawrence and Facilities Management are hoping to conserve and save as much as possible. The signs are being placed in classrooms, restrooms and conference rooms.
In the wake of the Jan. 7 blackout, which was estimated to cost $14,000 so far in overtime and fuel, saving both money and energy is even more important to Facilities Management.
"It's better than nothing," said Newago junior Stephanie Lindley about the strategy of using signs to influence energy conservation.
Portage freshman Shawn Minger said he believes the signs could start a trend of influence.
"If one person does it, eventually more people will do it," Minger said.
Lawrence said although the campaign is targeting classroom buildings, the signs will not be put in faculty offices, where the lights usually get turned off.
news@cm-life.com
In an effort to get students and faculty to turn off lights that are not in use, workers started placing green signs that said "turn it off" on light switches in classroom buildings during winter break.
"We're trying to encourage people, when they leave the room, to turn off the lights," said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of facilities management. "It's just a way to try to reduce our cost and conserve electricity."
Facilities Management began the "Turn It Off" campaign after surveying four classroom buildings and finding 64 to 90 percent of classroom lights left on after 10:30 p.m.
With more than 300 classrooms on campus and an electrical budget of $4.9 million, Lawrence and Facilities Management are hoping to conserve and save as much as possible. The signs are being placed in classrooms, restrooms and conference rooms.
In the wake of the Jan. 7 blackout, which was estimated to cost $14,000 so far in overtime and fuel, saving both money and energy is even more important to Facilities Management.
"It's better than nothing," said Newago junior Stephanie Lindley about the strategy of using signs to influence energy conservation.
Portage freshman Shawn Minger said he believes the signs could start a trend of influence.
"If one person does it, eventually more people will do it," Minger said.
Lawrence said although the campaign is targeting classroom buildings, the signs will not be put in faculty offices, where the lights usually get turned off.
news@cm-life.com
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