Sep 26 2009
Winchester Uni joins ‘Student Switch Off’ campaign
Students enrolling at the University of Winchester this month are being asked to sign up to become ‘Eco-Power Rangers’ for the Student Switch Off, a national energy-saving competition designed to lower carbon emissions across campus.
The university is one of 30 institutions taking part in the initiative which involves halls of residence competing against each other for prizes to cut energy usage.
Tommy Geddes, deputy vice-chancellor, said: “Last year’s Student Switch Off saw an average reduction in student halls of 8.1 per cent. Our student village at West Downs has half hourly data for energy consumption so we will be able to monitor savings each month.”
Actions recommended include switching off lights and appliances when not in use, putting a lid on pans while cooking, not overfilling kettles and wearing an extra layer of clothing rather than turning up the thermostat.
Jimmy Weighell, Winchester Student Union president, said: “This campaign is great because it’s informative with an awareness approach and it doesn’t try to preach.”
The University is a member of the Carbon Trust’s Higher Education Carbon Management programme and recently received more than £150,000 from Salix’s Revolving Green Fund to help increase its energy saving measures.
