Power OFF Challenge
Materials Handling Facility wins the 2011 Power OFF Challenge!
The winner of the third annual Power OFF challenge is the Materials Handling Facility (MHF)! Occupants of the MHF achieved a record-breaking 49% energy reduction last week, resulting in an overall average reduction of 23% over the three week challenge.
“I’m amazed,” says Dean McKinney, a Hazardous Materials Technician with Environment, Health and Safety in the Materials Handling Facility. “Everyone in the building really stepped up in the last week of the challenge demonstrating that small actions can produce extraordinary results.”
The Materials Handling Facility had a 9% reduction in the first week and a 12% reduction in the second week but the record breaking 49% reduction took place in the third week when McKinney worked with his colleagues to eliminate phantom loads and reduce energy consumption of fans. “Other than the clock and air compressor, we used power bars to ensure that all unused equipment was turned off,” says McKinney, “we also turned down the speed of our fans when we weren’t in the room. We are going to make these actions standard practice now that we know the impact they can make.”
Staff at the Materials Handling Facility hold all bragging rights until next year’s challenge. They also hold the record for the highest reduction ever seen in Power OFF history. $85.26 on behalf of McKinney and his team is being donated to the United Way representing 5 cents for every kilowatt hour (kWh) saved in their building over the course of the challenge.
Honorable mentions go to the Information Communications Technology building and the Health Research Innovation Centre (HRIC) which placed second and third with average reductions of 14% and 12% respectively. The HRIC also saved an astounding 73,184 kWh in total which was the greatest kWh savings achieved by any building in the challenge.
This year there was an overall decrease of 0.3% in total campus electricity consumption and the buildings that achieved reductions saved a total of 155,402 kWh, enough to power approximately five family homes for one year.
| Week 1 Results View results for Nov. 14 to Nov. 20 |
Week 2 Results |
Week 3 and Final Results View results for Nov. 28 to Dec. 4 and Final Challenge Results |
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About the Challenge
The annual Power OFF challenge encourages students, staff and faculty to turn off lights, computers and other equipment to see which building can reduce energy consumption the most. 5 cents for every kilowatt hour of reduction is donated to the United Way on behalf of the occupants in the winning building.
This year the challenge ran from Nov. 14th to Dec. 4th. A power consumption baseline had been set for each building and energy use monitoring showed how successful occupants of each building were at reducing power consumption. The winning building was determined by the greatest precent reduction from its baseline. Base loads-operations that are not within the control of people-were removed from calculations so that the competition solely reflected the cumulative actions taken by individuals.
In 2010, the winning building (Teaching Resource and Wellness) achieved a 9.5% weekly average reduction in electricity use over the course of the challenge. The Administration building had the best individual week performance achieving a 17.5% reduction in the final week. To read more about last years results click here.
Challenge Tips
Energy savings tips for offices, labs and residences
Listed below are a few simple ways that you can create a work culture where everyone knows and takes responsibility for actions that reduce U of C's electricity use and GHG emissions. These will also give you and your collegues a good start on winning the Power OFF Challenge.
- Use an energy meter
- Adjust your computer settings
- Lighting
- Appliances and Equipment
- Green laboratories
- Get the word out by forwarding this poster
- Connect with a SustainabilityON Coordinator in your area
Why power OFF?
The Figures
The University of Calgary is comprised of 125 building ranging in age from 1950 to 2009. Utility costs to operate these buildings are approximately $28 million annually and result in 240,000 metric tonnes of GHG emissions each year. It would take 11.7 million trees to offset University of Calgary's Built Environment GHG footprint alone!
Institutional Commitment
University of Calgary is a signatory to the University and College Presidents' Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada. To learn more about initiatives currently underway that will signficantly cut back on University of Calgary's GHG emissions click here.