Res Race to Zero counting down to Earth Hour
TORONTO, March 22, 2011 – Students in York University’s residences aim to reduce their energy consumption by more than 30 per cent this year, in the university’s third annual Res Race to Zero.
The competition, which runs March 1 - 28, challenges students living in Keele and Glendon residences to cut their energy consumption and reduce their carbon footprint. Students in the residence with the highest cumulative percentage energy reduction (average kilowatt hour per student) will win $2,000 towards a sustainability initiative of their choice.
“Last year, our students saved enough energy to power Vanier Residence for an entire month. This represented a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption,” says Pavel Graymason, a residence life coordinator who has helped shepherd the program since its inception. “Our first year, we came in at a 25 per cent reduction. So, an improvement on last year’s percentage is certainly achievable,” he says.
Each residence has a baseline average weekly kilowatt usage per student based on data gathered from 2010. The challenge for each student will be to reduce this figure by taking steps that are as simple as turning off lights before leaving for classes.
“In terms of energy savings, we’re talking about the simplest of things. But these simple habits can have a huge impact. It’s also something that we hope students will carry with them beyond their experience at York,” Graymason says.
Other tasks include switching off televisions in house lounges when not in use, putting computers into energy saving sleep modes and other habits that will cut power consumption in residence buildings. Students can track their weekly progress on the Res Race to Zero web page.
“The Res Race to Zero is so great because it heightens the sense of awareness within the residence community of the impact we all have on our environment,” says Cassandra Brennan, Residence Environmental Ambassador (REA) of York’s Bethune Residence. “This year, if I can change even one person’s habits, making them consistently aware of the more sustainable options out there, I will have achieved my goal.”
The competition complements York University's Energy Management Program, a five-year plan to reduce overall energy consumption by 25 per cent, equivalent to 275,000 GJ of energy or 18,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
In 2010, students living in the Bethune and Winters residence buildings tied for first place in the competition. In 2009, students in the Calumet Residence finished first.
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York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
Media Contact:
Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22097, mehughes@yorku.ca
