New class cleans campus, conserves dorm energy
Hilary Brady
Issue date: 11/25/08 Section: News
The class also discusses the problem of URI's carbon footprint and what students can do to help reduce the campus' environmental impact.
A carbon footprint is defined as "how much energy you consume," Peterson said. "[It is an] index of environmental friendliness" O'Brien said, which involves every aspect of daily consumption, from keeping a laptop on at night, to the car one drives, to using disposable cups instead of reusable ones.
"It's every decision you make and the impact on the environment," Stephanie Gregory said.
The group plans to help reduce URI's carbon footprint "through carpooling and the [dorm] energy contest," O'Brien said.
The "Rhody Goes Green Dorm Competition," which will be held during November, will measure which dorm can reduce its energy usage by the highest percentage.
This competition will help dorms the "channels to reduce energy usage compared to readings of the past year," senior Amy Diez said.
Students can make simple, everyday changes to reduce their dorm's energy usage. "Unplug things, take shorter showers, turn off the computer or lights," Heidt said. These efforts can not only help the university save money and reduce its impact on the environment, but it can help students save money.
As a reward for their efforts, the winning dorm will receive a free pizza party.
The group is also focused on a carpooling forum that will help address the problem of campus transportation, which accounts for 28 percent of URI's carbon emissions.
"Eighty-one percent of commuting students drive alone," Peterson said. The carpooling forum intends to reduce single drivers by helping commuters arrange rides back - and - forth to campus with students in the same or neighboring towns.
A carbon footprint is defined as "how much energy you consume," Peterson said. "[It is an] index of environmental friendliness" O'Brien said, which involves every aspect of daily consumption, from keeping a laptop on at night, to the car one drives, to using disposable cups instead of reusable ones.
"It's every decision you make and the impact on the environment," Stephanie Gregory said.
The group plans to help reduce URI's carbon footprint "through carpooling and the [dorm] energy contest," O'Brien said.
The "Rhody Goes Green Dorm Competition," which will be held during November, will measure which dorm can reduce its energy usage by the highest percentage.
This competition will help dorms the "channels to reduce energy usage compared to readings of the past year," senior Amy Diez said.
Students can make simple, everyday changes to reduce their dorm's energy usage. "Unplug things, take shorter showers, turn off the computer or lights," Heidt said. These efforts can not only help the university save money and reduce its impact on the environment, but it can help students save money.
As a reward for their efforts, the winning dorm will receive a free pizza party.
The group is also focused on a carpooling forum that will help address the problem of campus transportation, which accounts for 28 percent of URI's carbon emissions.
"Eighty-one percent of commuting students drive alone," Peterson said. The carpooling forum intends to reduce single drivers by helping commuters arrange rides back - and - forth to campus with students in the same or neighboring towns.
