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Despite winter's chill, efforts to reduce energy consumption on campus are heating up.
This semester, the "Get Green" campaign to keep conservation top of mind with the University community has rolled out the latest entry in its popular "green mustache" poster series: the Screaming Eagles Marching Band.
The band is an apt representative of the campaign spirit, according to organizers in the Office of News & Public Affairs, which oversees the awareness effort. Just as every note played by each band member is important to the overall sound, every effort to cut even a small amount of energy use contributes to overall savings; discipline is required to keep the band in step and in tune, as consistency is needed in efforts to conserve, and, above all, the BC Marching Band provides each outstanding performance "unplugged."
"With more than 180 members burning 500 calories per hour over the course of a 200-hour season, the Boston College Marching Band is one of the most dynamic natural energy producers on our campus, but we're the first to shut off the lights when the show is over," said Marching Band Director David P. Healey. "Let's all work together to use our energy wisely and efficiently."
Also underway are the 2012 NRG Games, a five-week competition that challenges students to reduce their residence halls' electricity consumption compared to a baseline use from this year, with prizes for the community with the greatest savings. The games, which began January 30, will continue through March 3, and there will be weekly updates online at www.bc.edu/sustainability, where users can track consumption in real time through a new energy dashboard.
"This kind of event reflects BC's long term commitment to encourage personal responsibility for energy use and conservation among students, faculty and staff," said Energy Manager John MacDonald, "and also highlights Facilities Services’ continued goal of reducing the growing energy and electrical costs that impact the cost of overall operations.
"Energy conservation is a 'win/ win' situation: we reduce our carbon footprint and in doing so, save on costs,” he said. "But we can’t be successful without the support of the entire campus community."
Tips for conserving energy on a daily basis can be found at www.bc.edu/green.