UCSB Housing Unplugged!

2023 Student Energy Savings Contest Results

This year’s Housing Energy Contest had two winning halls. The hall with the most measured savings (in kWh compared to their own building’s baseline) was Manzanita Village, saving a whopping 18%. The hall with the most actions to save energy (for example, turning off lights when I leave the room and taking the stairs instead of the elevator) goes to Santa Catalina. Registration and actions were tracked on a platform used throughout the UC system for various “challenges.”  Congrats to all the participants!

Students saved 2.4% in the 11 participating halls and apartment complexes. That may not sound like a lot, but it equates to saving 18,558 kWh, or enough energy to power 31 average California homes for a month. Students collected their prizes (see photos below) at an event in the Santa Catalina Fiesta Room. Prizes included bikes, surfboards, water bottles, and boogie boards – human-powered prizes 😊.

Special thanks to the HDAE MarCom Team for the graphics and outreach, Jewel Persad (Campus Sustainability Manager), and Taylor Byrd (Carbon Neutrality student intern) for her help with organizing and prizes.