Annual IU Energy Challenge announces winners

Greek houses and residence halls have given up modern conveniences since March 25 to conserve energy and water for the IU Energy Challenge.

Dean of Students Dick McKaig announced the winners at Wednesday’s Field Day 2009.

Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and Teter Quad are this year’s winners.

“Everyone who was part of the challenge is a winner. The earth is the winner,” McKaig said.

The second IU Energy Challenge began March 25 and ended Wednesday. Residence halls and greek houses were encouraged to compete to see who could conserve the most energy in four weeks.

Teter Quad made an effort to make everyone more conscious of “going green” by organizing Teter Green Week, which was filled with activities like campus cleanup and recycling art supplies.

“The RA staff has to put on a monthly program, and the energy challenge made for good programming,” said senior Tyler Duffey, Teter Quad resident assistant.

Teter Quad turned unnecessary lights off and also organized blackout events to make students more aware of the sustainability effort.

Some Teter Quad residents were not as enthusiastic about the energy challenge, but for the most part everyone was really cooperative with the program, Duffey said.

“In the beginning many residents were pessimistic,” said Cedric Harris, Teter Quad residence manager. “Residents thought that they were just saving IU money, but then
they caught on that it was good for the earth.”

Sigma Alpha Mu said they took extreme measures in conserving energy and water.

“We lived in the dark for three to four weeks,” said junior Jeff Safferman, Sigma Alpha Mu president. “It was a challenge at the time, but all the brothers got together to win the challenge, raise awareness and save as much energy as possible.”

Sigma Alpha Mu received $900 and Teter Quad received $4,500. Teter Quad is having a cookout in honor of their work, and the money will be used to make both residences
more eco-friendly.

As compared to last year’s challenge, the dorms increased electricity savings by 59 percent and increased water savings by 83 percent.

Mckenzie Beverage, IU Office of Sustainability intern and energy challenge coordinator, spearheaded this year’s energy challenge and tried to make her publicity and advertising as sustainable as possible by spreading awareness through e-mails and speaking at meetings.

“I really believe in this and the message that we are spreading,” Beverage said.