McCormick Road Residence Houses Win Energy Challenge

November 9, 2011 — The University of Virginia's McCormick Road residence halls reduced their electric use by 19 percent to top their rival U.Va. housing areas in this year's energy challenge.

Facilities Management measured electricity use in the residence houses on Alderman Road, McCormick Road, in the Gooch/Dillard Residence Area and at Hereford Residential College from Oct. 16 to Nov. 6 and compared them on a per-capita basis to the same time period the previous year.

The Alderman Road residence houses came in second with a 12 percent reduction in their energy use. Gooch/Dillard posted a 6 percent reduction and Hereford Residential College 5 percent reduction.

"We're really happy with the results as each area saw a decrease in energy usage," said Nina Morris, sustainability outreach coordinator for Facilities Management. "This shows that students can make a difference in the electric consumption in their residence halls, especially over a long period."

She said students were vigilant about turning off lights when not in use and unplugging charging units and computers.

"Students have a heavy plug load," Morris said. "We want them to be more conscious of hall lights and maybe hang-drying their clothes instead of using electric dryers. And we want them to have fun."

The University has been holding the energy challenge for seven years. Students in the McCormick Road resident houses have reduced their electric consumption from 160 kilowatts per person in 2005 to 100 kilowatts per person in 2011 during the four weeks of the contest.

McCormick Road residents were rewarded with a pizza party and prizes.

— By Matt Kelly

Media Contact

Matt Kelly

Office of University Communications