Sustainability Blog

Monthly Theme: Energy Conservation

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Every month we focus on a different area of sustainability on campus.

This month we’re focusing on conserving energy!

Join your fellow Bears between October 1st and 21st to reduce your energy consumption on campus and at home!

Why Is Energy Conservation Important?

The October Energy Competition gives students and staff a better understanding of the cause and effect of energy conservation and making our Earth a healthy place to live. Energy conservation is important because not only does it save large amounts of money, it also forces people to get out and participate. Stronger social connections and comradery leads to healthier mental and physical health! Energy conservation also decreases the number of threats to our environment, such as fossil fuel usage and oil spills. Energy conservation doesn’t just require action from governments and businesses, it also requires action from you.

What Can You Do?

Saving energy doesn’t have to be complicated. Your actions can be as simple as using natural light in the daytime and using a power strip. There are many things you can do to conserve energy. Here is a list of simple actions you can take to make a difference this October and beyond! Pick as many as you feel comfortable with.

  • 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
  • Always use the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Use less hot water when showering, washing your hands, and washing your clothes
  • Take shorter showers
  • Use the solar-powered picnic tables between the Foster Rec Center and the Blair-Shannon Dining Hall to charge your electronics while you enjoy the nice weather!

How Can You Get Involved On Campus?

In addition to doing your part to save energy, we have put together many fun events, competitions, challenges, and initiatives for you to participate in!

  • Print out the Faculty and 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!
  • Residence Hall Energy Competition: Keep tabs on the Building Dashboard to see how you are stacking up against other residence halls on campus. The residence hall that reduces energy consumption the most will win a finals week party and a trophy!
  • Why DONUT you save energy? Scavenger Hunt: For our campus-wide energy competition this year at Missouri State, we’re going DONUTS! ALL students are invited to participate in our Scavenger Hunt to get FREE DONUTS and to earn points towards a grand prize giveaway! Learn more and attend the event!
    • Free DONUTS throughout each of the three weeks – if you can find them!
    • Houlihan’s Free Appetizer Coupon to the first 50 students who earn 20 points
    • Grand Prize: Inflatable Hammock Lounger for the student with the most points
  • Green Game Nights at the Freddy Courtyard: Get outside, play games, and save energy! We’ll have GIANT JENGA, Bocci Ball, Hula Hoops, Frisbees, and many more games to play. Plus, there will be FREE Boomer Mix Popcorn (white chocolate and raspberry)!
    • Friday, October 6th from 5 – 6 pm
    • Friday, October 20th from 5 – 6 pm
  • Green Room Certifications: Fill out this quick form to get your Room, Suite, Office, or Residence Hall Front Desk Green Certified! You will receive a badge to hang on your door and other free things.
  • Hour without Power: Each week try to go at least one hour without using any electricity: take a walk, grade papers or study using only natural light, eat your lunch outside without the distraction of your phone, try meditating, or just sit outside and enjoy some fresh air. All you have to do is unplug and save some energy. No matter what you decide to do, you’ll be saving energy and creating a more sustainable environment on campus.
  • Lunch without Lights: To reduce energy usage on campus, dining halls will turn out their lights during specific times to raise awareness about the competition and to save energy!
  • Power House Tours: These tours are a great opportunity to learn about campus utilities. Additionally, the tours usually include going into the tunnels under campus. We encourage you to put a Power House tour on your Missouri State bucket list. Save your spot for the Power House tour on October 16th.

We hope you will go above and beyond and reduce your energy consumption beyond the month of October. The world needs you to act!

Missouri State University is committed to keeping our earth a safe, healthy, ethical place for generations to come.

We are making a direct positive impact on campus energy usage this year. Are you?

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.