Putting Energy into Conservation…

An energy education campaign was conducted on campus throughout the fall and winter of 2004-2005.

Beginning with a kick-off event in September, the campaign followed up on an energy audit of the campus conducted in 2003 & 2004.

In addition to making the campus community aware of the benefits of saving energy, the campaign also aimed to encourage energy-saving habits, such as turning off lights in unused areas; turning off computers at the end of the work/study day; unplugging unused appliances; replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and walking, rather than driving, to locations on and near campus. It was sponsored by the Conservation Council and endorsed by Thelmo, the Environmental Action Organization, the Outing Club, the division of administrative operations and the chaplain’s office.

Members of the campus community were asked to sign a pledge card, indicating a commitment to those activities. Students in the Environmental Action Organization staffed a table in the Student Center where people could sign the energy pledge, and throughout the semester the community received information about energy-saving behaviors. The campaign concluded with an Energy Day, March 2, that included energy exhibits in the student center, special presentations in SLU classes by Ann Heidenreich , Executive Director of Community Energy Services and Scott Shipley, Technical Director of Community Energy Services, and the inaugural visit to the North Country of the Energy Hog!

St. Lawrence’s Energy Education Campaign was conducted with assistance from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) North Country Energy $mart Communities Program and Community Energy Services, Inc., of Hermon, N.Y. Those organizations also provided assistance for the 2003 energy audit.