James Hall Defeats Boyd Hall in First Spring Residence Hall Challenge

Contact: George Mauzy, (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu

ATHENS, Ohio (May 29, 2001) -- James Hall defeated Boyd Hall in Ohio University's first Spring Residence Hall Challenge by reducing its normal energy consumption by 40.43 percent and water consumption by 43.5 percent. The hall's eight-week effort prevented 117 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere.

Associate Vice President for Administration/Facilities and Auxiliaries Sherwood Wilson will recognize James Hall residents at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, between Boyd and Irvine halls on West Green. Wilson also will present a gift certificate to Boyd resident Kurt Holliday for his winning design of the trophy for next year's Residence Hall Challenge. The media is welcome to attend.

The competition grew out of Ohio University's comprehensive efforts to save resources and reduce utility expenses on campus. Students in the two halls turned off lights and computers and conserved water in an effort to win the grand prize -- a cookout and entertainment by Collapse, a local band. The entire campus will participate in the energy conservation competition next fall.

With the same results projected over a year, the two residence halls could prevent more than 1 1/2 tons of emissions from entering the atmosphere. Considering that a tree eight centimeters in diameter will absorb three kilograms of carbon dioxide in a year, it would take 333 trees to remove a ton of carbon dioxide from the air in a year. The combined efforts of James and Boyd residents would have the environmental effect of 500 trees in a year span.

James and Boyd were the first two residence halls retrofitted with energy efficient lights and water-conserving plumbing fixtures as part of the largest university "energy performance contract" in the country. Ohio University is improving campus facilities with energy conserving measures and using the money saved to pay for improvements. Meters to measure water and energy consumption were installed in the residence halls, enabling facilities staff to measure the energy and water students saved.

Sophomore Meghan Hodinka does a variety of small things to have an effect.

"I'm trying to remind myself to cut time in the shower, and when I'm not in the room, I turn the air off and open my windows," she said.

"The spirit of the competition spurred many residents to do more," said junior Kelly Monce. "When I saw the numbers posted, I went upstairs and turned off my light, air conditioner and computer."

Junior Tara Harwood and sophomore Rachael Gowins produced a couple of videos for public access television promoting energy and water conservation in the residence halls. The first, titled "Making the Connection," will air this week.

"There was a time when I would often forget to turn off my lights when I left the room, but now I make a conscious effort to tell others to turn their lights off," Harwood said. "If there is one thing I've learned from this competition, it's that one person really can help motivate others to make a difference."