Spring Break
The Daily Orange'Lights Out' encourages saving energy
By Heather Mayer
Posted: 4/3/08, 10:29 PM EST Section: News
Hannah Morgan didn't like how this year's Focus the Nation teach-in handled issues of energy consumption, so she took matters into her own hands.
Morgan, a sophomore environmental science major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, jumpstarted Lights Out week, which started Monday and runs through today in response to the lack of emphasis put on energy conservation. Lights Out week is an effort to get students and staff in the habit of turning off lights.
"They weren't saying 'conserve, conserve, conserve,' but instead, 'find alternative energy sources,'" she said.
Morgan, an executive member of the Green Campus Initiative (GCI), an ESF student organization, wanted to send the message that there are simpler and less expensive ways to save energy.
"If people don't have enough money to buy a fluorescent light, they can get in the habit of conserving energy," she said.
Morgan worked with other members of GCI to coordinate the campaign. One member suggested having it this week, which immediately followed the global event, Earth Hour.
Last year, Sydney, Australia, turned off its lights to raise awareness about coal-fired electricity, according to earthhour.org. This year, the event went global, as cities all over the world turned their lights off for one hour, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday.
In Syracuse, there was an Earth Hour lap at SU's annual Relay for Life event, and the lights in the Hall of Languages clock tower were turned off.
"We're empowering people that one small action can make a big difference," said Sarah Kelsen, student co-chair of University Sustainability Action Coalition.
Morgan took it upon herself to alert students, staff and faculty at both ESF and SU to be aware of their habits of turning on lights. She e-mailed listservs, made fliers and banners and relied on word-of-mouth to promote Lights Out.
"It's a matter of networking," Kelsen, a senior environmental resources and forest engineering major, said. "We want people to be more conscientious of our impact on the environment."
Morgan, a sophomore environmental science major at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, jumpstarted Lights Out week, which started Monday and runs through today in response to the lack of emphasis put on energy conservation. Lights Out week is an effort to get students and staff in the habit of turning off lights.
"They weren't saying 'conserve, conserve, conserve,' but instead, 'find alternative energy sources,'" she said.
Morgan, an executive member of the Green Campus Initiative (GCI), an ESF student organization, wanted to send the message that there are simpler and less expensive ways to save energy.
"If people don't have enough money to buy a fluorescent light, they can get in the habit of conserving energy," she said.
Morgan worked with other members of GCI to coordinate the campaign. One member suggested having it this week, which immediately followed the global event, Earth Hour.
Last year, Sydney, Australia, turned off its lights to raise awareness about coal-fired electricity, according to earthhour.org. This year, the event went global, as cities all over the world turned their lights off for one hour, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday.
In Syracuse, there was an Earth Hour lap at SU's annual Relay for Life event, and the lights in the Hall of Languages clock tower were turned off.
"We're empowering people that one small action can make a big difference," said Sarah Kelsen, student co-chair of University Sustainability Action Coalition.
Morgan took it upon herself to alert students, staff and faculty at both ESF and SU to be aware of their habits of turning on lights. She e-mailed listservs, made fliers and banners and relied on word-of-mouth to promote Lights Out.
"It's a matter of networking," Kelsen, a senior environmental resources and forest engineering major, said. "We want people to be more conscientious of our impact on the environment."
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Mark Tyrol
posted 4/05/08 @ 10:33 PM EST
How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. (Continued…)
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