Yale students more than met the University's challenge to reduce energy use in their residential colleges.
In an effort to raise awareness and begin the process of curbing emissions, Yale challenged students to reduce energy use in their dormitories by 15% over three years. For every 5% reduction, the University promised to allocate renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset one-third of the electrical energy used by residential colleges.
RECs represent energy produced by renewable sources such as solar, wind, biomass or hydroelectric that is fed into the grid in place of energy produced by coal or other fossil fuel-based sources.
Yale students managed to reduce energy needs by 10% in the first year of the challenge, and the University will therefore buy cleaner energy to offset two-thirds of the electrical energy used in the residential colleges. This initial purchase will offset equivalent to 10,000MWh (megawatt hours).
Three student groups -- Student Task Force for Environmental Partnership (STEP), New Haven Action and Yale Student Environmental Coalition (YSEC) -- took a leadership role in meeting the energy reduction challenge. STEP developed and implemented the "Yale Unplugged" campaign, which reminded students to turn off lights and unplug appliances when leaving campus for vacations. New Haven Action partnered with members of STEP and YSEC and implemented the "Commit, Conserve, Go Clean" campaign and the "Yale Energy Pledge." By signing the pledge, students made a personal commitment to support Yale's greenhouse gas reduction strategy by taking actions to conserve energy.
The program is part of Yale's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. This is one of the most aggressive university-based greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the country. When the campus community returns next fall, the energy challenge will continue.
For more information, contact Julie Newman, director of Yale's Office of Sustainability, at (203) 432-2523.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
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FACULTY HONORED
Eight faculty elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Theoretical physicist Girvin named to National Academy of Sciences
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Alexander, Galvani and Valis . . . winners of Guggenheim Fellowships
Historian Amanat selected as Carnegie Scholar
Former airline official to lead Yale's labor-management initiatives
Yale students reduce their energy use by 10%
Anatomy lessons: Faculty testing new method of teaching medical students
'Silent Spring' author is focus of Beinecke Library exhibit
Inaugural play festival features new works by Drama School students
Three students win Morris K. Udall Scholarships . . .
Joint library project to preserve historic sound recordings . . .
Yale Press and Yale Rep launch major competition for new dramatic works
Study to explore lasting effects of early health habits
Fund and lecture named for noted neurologist
In Memoriam: Dr. Thomas T. Amatruda Jr.
Yale Dramat's 'Side Show' tells true tale of vaudeville stars . . .
Weiswasser Lecture will explore HIV prevention in teens
Student Research Day will feature Farr Lecture and . . . presentations
Symposium will explore advances in chemistry and biology
Yale College juniors honored by Council of Masters
Learning the art of wrong thinking
New memorial lectureship at Cancer Center honors Dr. Paul Calebresi . . .
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