Oct
Blackout returns
On the 14 November SUSU will be flipping the switch as we join the University again for Blackout.
For those of you who haven’t heard of Blackout, this annual event is the centerpiece of an ongoing university sustainability campaign.
Last year the event saw over 250 students and members of staff spend the evening recording and switching off non-essential equipment in buildings on Highfield and Avenue Campus, and Winchester School of Art – making it the biggest energy audit of its kind in the higher education sector!
Afterwards, volunteers then enjoyed a dominoes delivery of over 100 pizzas to share, and a post-Blackout party!
The results from the first two years show that many staff are already in the habit of switching things off – but there’s always more we can do.
So this year we’re looking to build on the success and show once again the impact of switching off unnecessary electrical equipment by switching off as much of campus as possible.
As the Union is included in the audit be aware that on this evening, computers, printers, photocopiers and all other electrical items which are not being used will be switched off if they are left on. (If there is a reason for them to be on please leave a paper sign stuck to the piece of equipment informing them not to switch it off).
If you would like to get involved in the event find out more at susu.org/blackout
DID YOU KNOW?
By turning off our computers and other unnecessary electrical items, the University could save over £200,000 a year.
The University has a 20% carbon reduction target by 2020.
In 2012, there was a 6% reduction in electricity use over the Blackout weekend (compared to the average usage over four comparable weekends), amounting to 7 tonnes of carbon and savings of up to £1,600.
Or, to put it a different way, in just a few hours the Blackout team successfully saved enough electricity to power 5 family homes for a year!
Tags: Freshers'