Take the pledge

It all adds up is centered around a pledge to commit to energy saving measures on campus

By Chris Kelleher

President Bruininks stopped by the recent It all adds up Energy Showcase at Morrill Hall

September 23, 2009

There’s been a lot more maroon and gold on campus since the Gopher football team inaugurated the new stadium. But green is another color making a comeback at the U.

The maroon and green look of the It all adds up the campus energy-conservation campaign can be seen all over campus on posters, stickers, t-shirts, banners, and even sidewalks.

The campaign seeks to reduce annual campus energy usage 5 percent by the end of 2010. This will save the University about $2.25 million each year and result in 25,000 fewer tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

It all adds up is centered around a pledge in which students, faculty, and staff commit to energy saving measures while they are on campus. The goal is to collect 10,000 pledges by the end of the fall semester and show the state legislature, as well as the rest of Minnesota, that the U of M is committed to saving energy and money.

The class of 2013 got in the spirit during Welcome Week, contributing more than 1,200 pledges. The total now stands at more than 4,000.

Most of the pledge’s items are second nature to anyone who pays a monthly energy bill at home, but on campus they can be easily forgotten. Here are the seven items of the It all adds up energy pledge:

• Power down my computer at night and over the weekends.
• Turn off my lights when I’ll be out of the room for more than 10 minutes.
• Unplug my cell-phone charger or other appliances that draw “vampire” power.
• Avoid the use of space heaters or personal fans. Instead, I’ll dress for the weather—an extra layer in winter and lighter in summer.
• Use the stairs: walk up one floor and down two to reduce elevator use.
• Use the handicapped entrance button only when necessary.
• Print or copy on two sides instead of one.

While these individual steps may appear small, working together, 80,000 students, faculty, and staff can make huge leaps in reducing emissions, cutting electrical usage, and saving University resources.

Take 30 seconds and make an individual pledge.

Sign up and join the It all adds up fanpage at Facebook.