The Fall Phoenix Cup energy competition challenged the Elon community to reduce electricity use on campus.
This year’s Phoenix Cup Energy Competition saw students commit to preventing the release of more than 3,500 pounds of heat-trapping gasses into the atmosphere.
The Phoenix Cup, which ended last week, is a series of competitions aimed at reducing the collective ecological footprint of Elon students, faculty and staff. To compete, participants completed a pledge divided into three categories: personal habits, engaging friends and learning more about the topic at an event.
“I participated in Phoenix Cup because sustainability is a passion of mine. If I can help the environment, I will do it.” Commented Robyn Lane, one of the Phoenix Cup prize winners.
This fall, the checklist included a new feature that allowed students to see how much carbon would be conserved if they did each action for an entire semester. “This helps make the impact of individual actions more tangible,” said Jessica Bilecki, assistant director for education and outreach in the Office of Sustainability. “Plus, if you only want to commit to doing one thing, it’s an easy way to see what would be the most impactful.”
The top five students who conserved the most carbon emissions received a prize bag from the Office of Sustainability. These students are: Faith Antonek, Riley Billman, Emily Fasth, Kevin Hutchings and Robyn Lane.
Robyn Lane and Sarah Baily, Assistant Director of Advancement Services, won the participant raffle for $25 Phoenix Cash.
Residential buildings that conserved the most energy on average throughout the competition were Oaks, Sullivan with a decrease of 8 percent, and Isabella Cannon with a decrease of 5.4 percent. Staff and faculty participants represented Center for the Arts, Koury Athletic Center, Advancement and Johnston Hall. Staff representing Koury Athletic Center and Johnston hall will receive a lunch or can have a donation made on their behalf for their efforts. Koury Athletic Center had the largest decrease in energy use at 5.3 percent, and while energy use at Johnston Hall could not be measured for this competition, it had the most staff representation.
Phoenix Cup returns in the spring and will focus on landfill waste reduction.