BEMIDJI, Minn. (Feb. 9, 2012) — Bemidji State University is kicking off Campus Conservation Nationals (CCN) 2012, a nationwide electricity and water use reduction competition among colleges and universities.  Starting today through April 23, students at BSU and across the country will compete to achieve the greatest reductions in their residence halls.

The University joins the ranks of more than 150 schools nationwide that are currently registered for the program. During the 2012 challenge, participating schools can choose to compete against buildings on their own campus or against a select group of peer institutions, with savings from all participants accumulating to reach a national challenge goal of saving one gigawatt-hour.

“Energy competitions are a great way to educate and engage students,” said Erika Bailey-Johnson, sustainability coordinator at Bemidji State University.  “The Students for the Environment club is coordinating the ‘Do it in the Dark’ energy savings campaign at the same time as Campus Conservation Nationals.  They plan to give away power strips to reduce phantom loads.”

During the CCN 2010 pilot, 40 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada participated in a similar competition, during which they were able to reduce electricity consumption by 508,000 kilowatt-hours. This competition saved $50,200 from campus costs and averted 816,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The 2012 challenge will build on that success and encourage students to brainstorm innovative solutions for how their school can save energy and cut costs.

For more information about the competition or how you can help contact Erika Bailey-Johnson in the Sustainability Office at ebaileyjohnson@bemidjistate.edu or (218) 755-2560.