Last spring, the University spent $16,186 to install solar panels on the roof of Olin Library. In other words, for the same price as installing the solar panels, a student could have printed 202,325 pages in the library. While these panels were designed just as much to be educational as environmentally-friendly, according to Manager of Utilities Operation Ed Barry in a March 24 Student Life article, one has to wonder why the University isn’t doing more to help conserve energy.
One initiative that the University started involved installing an automatic shut-off function for lights in bathrooms in places such as Danforth House and other buildings around campus. In these bathrooms, the lights automatically turn off after a certain period of time. This is a great way to save energy, as many people neglect to turn off the lights as they leave the bathroom. However, this has not been installed everywhere, and it is not even in the New Liggett building. Having this automatic shut-off is a great idea, so why not put it everywhere?
Another option for energy conservation on campus is lowering the default temperatures of air conditioners in classrooms. Ichiyo Yiye Zhang, a sophomore in the school of Arts & Sciences, conducted a study with the Facilities Department in which she examined the effects of decreasing the temperature in Lab Sciences 300, one of the University’s largest classrooms. She found that dropping the temperature by just three degrees in LabSci 300 would save the University $7,000 in energy costs as well as .7 million kiloBritish Thermal Units (kBTUs) a year. If lowering the set-temperature of air conditioners in just one classroom has such enormous benefits, the University should institute this plan in all classrooms. The difference of three degrees is negligible. No one would break out shivering in class just because it is three degrees cooler, and even if someone does, that person should just remember to bring a jacket to class.
The little things always find ways of adding up to high energy costs. And while it has been said a million times before, it’s always worth saying again. If students just remembered to turn off lights as they left rooms, wear layers in winter instead of cranking up the heat when it gets cold, and use energy efficient light bulbs, the costs saved would be monumental. However, the task is not one solely of individual responsibility. The University needs to do more to help conserve energy. Not only will it help the University become more eco-friendly, but it will save money in the long run. That’s something everyone should strive for.