UW-Madison is currently halfway through WeConserve week, a series of events intended to emphasize improving conservation across the university. WeConserve's target goal is reduce campus energy consumption per square foot by 20 percent by year 2010.""
WeConserve already has an impressive list of achievements. Since April of 2006, UW-Madison saved $4.6 million in energy costs. The university's carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by over 37,000 tons during that time. WeConserve has 1,500 students signed up for its online ""pledge"" to aid in the effort to conserve energy. Hwever, instead of using extra energy on your computer signing up for this pointless pledge, start conserving right away by turning your computer off. Over 97 percent of students at UW-Madison have a computer, and computers account for over $2 million in energy costs each year.
All students should take an active role in reducing energy emissions, whether this translates to riding your bike or replacing an incandescent bulb with a flourescent one. Just because you didn't pledge doesn't mean you can't help make WeConserve's goal a reality.
