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2016 Green Cup Winners and Impacts

Green Cup is an annual student energy reduction competition. The 2016 competition took place February 1-28 and included four leagues: South 40 Residential Colleges, North Side on-campus housing, on-campus fraternities, and the School of Medicine’s Olin dorm and Farrell Learning and Teaching Center (FLTC). Students competed to reduce their energy usage below a baseline. The North Side and School of Medicine league locations worked collectively to reduce by 10%, and the South 40 and fraternity teams competed using a point system. The Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Facilities staff members, measured electrical usage from refrigerators, lights, appliances, electronics, washing machines, and elevators (only lights in FLTC).

WUSM Student Sustainability Committee members Radhika Jain and David Ebertz coordinated efforts for the School of Medicine league. They and other student champions shared quiz questions and tips on how to reduce energy during tabling events and via social media. They also asked students to take a sustainability pledge to increase education and participation.

Green Cup participants gathered for the announcement of winners and an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 8. The winners are as follows:

South 40 – Lee/Beau (1st place, 26 points), HIG (2nd place, 21 points), Eliot (3rd place, 20 points)
Fraternities –TKE/House 11 (1st place, 14.2 points), Kappa Sig (2nd place, 11.4 points), SAE (3rd place, 10.9 points)
North Side – 12% overall reduction (exceeding goal of 10% reduction)
School of Medicine – 2% overall reduction over 2 weeks

Based on the meter data collected, the 2016 Green Cup resulted in a reduction of approximately 168,294 kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to 15-16 average U.S. homes running for an entire year! After announcing winners, attendees shared highlights from the month, lessons-learned, and ways to maintain and improve on energy reduction behaviors moving forward. The Green Cup aims to raise energy awareness and make energy conservation a way of life. Congratulations to all participants and partner groups!