Do It in the Dark

Do-it-in-the-Dark is a three-week-long energy savings competition for students living in UO residence halls. The effort, which debuted in 2010, is a conservation campaign coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and UO Housing. The Office of Sustainability trains the residential assistants of each hall and gives mini-presentations about energy awareness, reaching over 3,000 students annually. Daily results are posted online, helping residents learn conservation techniques and become more energy-conscious.

By unplugging their electronics at night, sharing mini-refrigerators, and turning off unused lights, Carson Hall residents won the 2012 competition, saving nearly 1,900 kilowatt hours. This is enough electricity to drive from Eugene to the Costa Rican jungle and back in a Chevy Volt.