Of the 286 students, faculty, and staff at the U of M, Crookston, who responded to a Campus Energy Challenge Survey in February, more than ninety percent believe reducing their electrical use will make some difference (183) or a meaningful difference (69) on campus. Results confirm that students, faculty, and staff, are concerned about our future and believe our actions can make a difference.
The Campus Energy Challenge survey showed that the strongest motivator for saving energy is the chance to save money: fifty-nine percent ranked it highest. Forty percent of respondents stated that concern for the environment is the strongest motivator for reducing their energy use.
Respondents were given four choices as to what obstacles prevent them from reducing their energy use: 1) I don't know what actions will reduce my energy use, 2) I can't remember to do things like shut off lights, unplug things, and close doors, 3) it's too inconvenient, and 4) it's not important to me. Forty-four and forty-three percent of those responding selected options 1 and 2 respectively. This statistic combined with the ninety-four percent of individuals surveyed who stated they want to learn more about how to save energy, gives the U of M, Crookston, the potential for positive change through the continued education of our campus community.
This continued education is exactly what the Crookston Student Association (the student governing body) is trying to do. Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD), a sub-committee has worked closely with Otter Tail Power Company to put on the Campus Energy Challenge this year. CSSD serves as a group for exploration, research, and collaborative conception of a number of sustainability initiatives on campus and for the local community. The group is open to all U of M, Crookston students.
This survey was one of the Campus Energy Challenge initiatives that CSSD and Otter Tail Power Company sponsored to help the college reach the goal of reducing its energy use by 10 percent to 15 percent. The "GreenWalking" video surveying random students on their knowledge of energy and an energy game show night also were held.
To learn more about the Otter Tail Power Company, visit www.otpco.com, and for more about sustainability initiatives on the Crookston Campus go to www.umcrookston.edu/sustainability.
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. "Small Campus. Big Degree." To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
The Campus Energy Challenge survey showed that the strongest motivator for saving energy is the chance to save money: fifty-nine percent ranked it highest. Forty percent of respondents stated that concern for the environment is the strongest motivator for reducing their energy use.
Respondents were given four choices as to what obstacles prevent them from reducing their energy use: 1) I don't know what actions will reduce my energy use, 2) I can't remember to do things like shut off lights, unplug things, and close doors, 3) it's too inconvenient, and 4) it's not important to me. Forty-four and forty-three percent of those responding selected options 1 and 2 respectively. This statistic combined with the ninety-four percent of individuals surveyed who stated they want to learn more about how to save energy, gives the U of M, Crookston, the potential for positive change through the continued education of our campus community.
This continued education is exactly what the Crookston Student Association (the student governing body) is trying to do. Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD), a sub-committee has worked closely with Otter Tail Power Company to put on the Campus Energy Challenge this year. CSSD serves as a group for exploration, research, and collaborative conception of a number of sustainability initiatives on campus and for the local community. The group is open to all U of M, Crookston students.
This survey was one of the Campus Energy Challenge initiatives that CSSD and Otter Tail Power Company sponsored to help the college reach the goal of reducing its energy use by 10 percent to 15 percent. The "GreenWalking" video surveying random students on their knowledge of energy and an energy game show night also were held.
To learn more about the Otter Tail Power Company, visit www.otpco.com, and for more about sustainability initiatives on the Crookston Campus go to www.umcrookston.edu/sustainability.
Today the University of Minnesota, Crookston delivers more than 25 bachelor's degree programs and 50 concentrations, including several online degrees, in agriculture and natural resources; arts, humanities and social sciences; business; and math, science and technology. With an enrollment of about 1,300 undergraduates, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. "Small Campus. Big Degree." To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.
Contact: Dan Svedarsky, director, Center for Sustainability, 218-281-8129 (dsvedars@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)
