Power Down Challenge

Stouffer, Jaffe Tops in 2012 Penn Power Down Challenge

The result of nearly three weeks of turning off unneeded lights, unplugging unused devices, layering up to warm up, and other creative means to conserve electricity, is the combined savings of 71,000 kWh across Penn’s campus.

In a competition where conserving energy means saving to win, Stouffer College House and the Jaffe Building totaled out as 2012 Champions of the University of Pennsylvania’s three-week Power Down Challenge. This friendly competition, which ran from October 31 through November 18, motivated all of Penn’s College Houses and many of its Campus Buildings to find effective and creative ways to save electricity. In addition to raising awareness over a three-week period, the Power Down Challenge aims to get participants to adopt energy-conserving practices that will last year round.

Stouffer College House (a combination of Stouffer Hall and Mayer Hall) is known for a strong community spirit, which kept this 250-resident group a strong contender throughout the competition. With an energy savings of 14.5%, Stouffer finished out well ahead of 2^nd Place (10.2%) Gregory College House and The Quad in 3^rd Place (5.5%). The Quad was the 2011 PDC College House Champion.

Jaffe, one of the buildings housing School of Arts & Science programs, came in as Campus Building Champion, dropping energy usage 21.6% over the competition period. Hillel (Steinhardt Hall) took 2^nd Place saving 12.6% over its baseline energy usage, and Huntsman Hall placed 3^rd, with a 7.4% energy savings. The Franklin Building, 2011 PDC Campus Building Champion, expanded their energy-savings programs from last year and reduced energy usage an additional 2.8% during this year’s competition period, showing their conservation efforts and behaviors have been sustained even after the competition.

¹ Sansom East and West have similar layout, populations, and building systems. The only significant difference is that Sansom West had nine Eco-Reps engaged in behavior change leadership and occupant reduction strategies.

² The Franklin Building had a 20% reduction during the 2011 competition, the highest among campus buildings, and a 12% sustained reduction over the rest of the year. Although there were fewer opportunities for energy savings available to occupants during this year’s competition, the building still recorded a 2.8% reduction – a significant accomplishment.