Student initiative brings wind-powered computers to campus

By Laurie Drukier

Computers powered by wind? It’s the latest green energy initiative on campus—and it was started by students.

The University of Calgary Eco Club had a bright idea and things just flew from there. Confident it could bring more alternative energy to campus, the club, led by president Stephanie Ferguson, mounted a film series over the winter semester and requested donations to purchase wind power certificates instead of an entrance fee.

“We raised about $200 in three evenings,” Ferguson said. “We had great turnouts, which also means the education and awareness component was a huge success.”

The club calculated it had enough money to power 15 computers in the Elbow Room—Science Theatres 142—for a whole year, so members approached U of C manager of energy and utilities infrastructure Murray Sloan to match the funds.

“We’re still finalizing the billing arrangements,” Sloan says. “But with the university making up the difference, we’re going to be able to power the whole lab for the rest of the calendar year.”

Ferguson is thrilled the university sees value in the initiative and has matched the funds raised. “Murray and Hans [Luu, the university’s environmental management co-ordinator] have been incredibly helpful in making this happen,” she says. “These are the kinds of initiatives we’re going to continue to encourage the university to undertake.”

Luu was happy to help put the pieces together. “It’s great to get involved with students,” he says. “They have access to the kind of ideas, resources and energy that, as university staff, we don’t always have. And working toward our common goal of sustainability is always a good thing.”

The Eco Club money will purchase renewable energy certificates from the Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development—an independent, not-for-profit environmental policy research and education organization—which will put wind power on the electrical grid for the university’s use. And with the income the wind-power producers earn as part of their arrangement with Pembina, they can build capacity and make even more of this low-emission energy source available.

It’s one more step toward the long-term goal of supplying green energy throughout the campus.
The Eco Club also sells energy-saving light bulbs, recycled pencils and reused notepads. It plans another film series, a speaker series and other awareness-raising events. It is also working to incorporate more sustainability initiatives into the Students’ Union agenda, with the most important goal being to encourage student involvement in environmental issues on campus.