University of Lynchburg has saved 3.6 million kWH in electricity and 13.3 million gallons of water in the last two years, for a dollar savings of about $454,000, thanks primarily to continuing campus-wide retrofits completed as part of LC’s $4.65 million commitment to reducing energy use.
In addition to the retrofits, LC students have been participating in the Campus Conservation Nationals, which ended Feb. 26. Nearly 250,000 students at 150 colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada participated.
More than LC 600 students signed up to participate and their efforts can be viewed on the University of Lynchburg Dashboard. LC will continue its own campus challenge through April 2.
Warmer-than-average temperatures during Round One (Feb. 6 – 26), made it difficult to determine precise savings; however, it was clear that significant conservation efforts were made in the residence halls.
Watch this video about the Conservation Challenge produced by College Communicating and Marketing student interns.
The bulk of the savings in electrical use during the last two years was accomplishedwith retrofitted lights and heating and cooling systems and are equivalent to burning 49,677 100-watt incandescent light bulbs continuously for one month.
The savings in water came from the installation of low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets, as well as “smart” irrigation systems have also decreased water usage and are equivalent to 3.2 million flushes in two years.
These upgrades will pay for themselves in eight to nine years with the amount of energy the College will save.
LC is also preventing 5,348 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year, or the equivalent of:
- Planting 1,215 acres of trees, or
- Removing 980 cars from the road, or
- Saving 607,000 gallons of gasoline, or
- Powering 741 homes annually.
