By Sunhari Jacob, Energy Conservation Intern at the Office of Sustainability
It is a known fact that collective action builds resilient communities - whether it is to tackle environmental justice, the climate crisis, or shortages in resources. The Campaign Conservation Competition in UMN residence halls this semester is proof that all of us - whether you are a student, teacher, alum or fond visitor - play a powerful role in establishing our campus as a beacon for joint sustainability efforts.
Since January, my classmate Sam Pacchetti and I have worked with Carley Rice, Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Minnesota, to launch the Campus Conservation Competition - a pilot program targeting residents in University-owned housing to minimize their energy use. We raised petitions from students and calculated differences in energy consumption across participating residential halls on the Twin Cities campus between April 1st and April 22nd, awarding the residential hall with the maximum percentage decrease in energy use with a trophy, as well as prize packs for 5 randomly selected participants.
As an effort to raise awareness on the urgency for collective action, the engagement we received from students surpassed all our expectations, and the data we collected demonstrates how together, we can bring real, statistical impact and boost the University’s efforts in accomplishing the Climate Action Plan.
The Numbers
We were thrilled to receive involvement from 141 students from all 11 residential halls on campus whose data we could measure.
After 3 weeks, we were able to calculate the average percentage change in daily energy consumption across all participating halls, revealing fantastic results:
Campus Conservation Campaign Results, April 2025
Here are some additional data insights for the top 4 residence halls:
Energy usage in top 4 winning halls comparing April 2024 and April 2025
We hope that data from the Campus Conservation Competition can give you the confidence you need to recognize how crucial you are for bringing change to our campus. These are numbers depicting the progress we made over 3 weeks with participation from a fraction of students on campus. Imagine what these numbers would look like if we all would come together everyday to create a campus driven by compassion for the the land we live on, the air we breathe and the ecosystem we depend on for bringing a smile to our faces as we see a flower bloom while waiting for a bus, or a turkey chase a friend.
If you want to get started with creating a more habitable planet for all of us, here is what you can do:
- Use a power strip to charge devices.
- Do larger loads of laundry in cold water.
- Install LED bulbs in your home, if possible.
- Use natural light.
- Stay up to date on our website for more ways you can contribute to the campus via cleanups, panels and student groups.
Want to do more? Visit your dorm’s reception or talk to your CA for more easy ways to save energy. Together, we can lead the change for a cleaner, and greener campus.
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📣 We want to hear from you! Help us better understand what kinds of sustainability stories and social media content are most useful, engaging, and exciting to our campus community. The short survey takes about 5 minutes to complete and is open to all. Enter your email at the end for a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card!
Thanks for helping us build a stronger, more connected sustainability community at the U! Learn more
"Illicit discharges are considered 'illicit' because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes." (EPA) As water runs down the street into storm drains, contaminated with illicit discharge (such as cigarette butts, trash, salt, vehicle fluids, or yard waste) from the street, it flows back down through the stormwater system and back into the river. Learn how you can help or report illicit discharge on campus.
Collective action works—and this spring’s Campus Conservation Competition proved it. Over 140 students across 11 residence halls joined the effort to reduce energy use, and the results were clear: small actions added up to real, measurable change. Students led the charge, raising awareness and cutting consumption in just three weeks. The numbers speak for themselves! Read more
Facilities Management staff: Join us for an Electric Vehicle Test Drive event!
Test drive hybrid and fully electric vehicles that could fit your department's needs. Fleet Services and Office of Sustainability staff will be onsite to answer your questions.
Wednesday, May 7th, 11:00am - 1:30pm
Fleet Services (901 29th Ave SE, Minneapolis)
Refreshments provided!
Share this event: z.umn.edu/EVtestdrive
The UMN Office of Sustainability and Campus Cleanup Crew are joining for a Stormwater Cleanup event focused on protecting our environment and keeping campus beautiful. Taking place at Knoll Park outside Peik Hall, we invite students to learn about stormwater's impact while taking direct action through litter cleanup. It's the perfect way to give back and get involved! 🌎
Not sure where your waste goes on campus? You’re not alone. The University of Minnesota is working to divert 90% of waste from landfills through recycling and composting. Nearly 60% of trash could be sorted better—your choices matter. Want to help UMN go zero waste? Get involved and join the conversation today. Learn more and take the survey.
April is Earth Month! Check out our frequently updated list of events to get involved. Check it out.
Have an event to share? Email us.
In 2024, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities achieved 9,864,660 kilowatt hours in electricity savings, surpassing the highest level of conservation goal set by Xcel Energy. That’s enough electricity to power 1,100 average Minnesota homes for a year and avoid 7.6 million pounds of CO2 emissions. As a result of our efforts through energy projects on campus, the University received $724,815 in rebates, plus an additional $147,246 for reaching our goal. The rebate ultimately goes back into a cycle within the University, allowing us to continue investing in energy reduction and working to reduce our energy use. The pie chart below highlights where these savings came from, with Lighting (35%) and HVAC (24%) contributing the most. Thanks to Energy Management and all who support these efforts!
Do you have input regarding the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program?