November 2014
Saving Energy: Help AU “Kill A Watt”
Energy: we can’t see it, touch it, or
smell it, but we rely on it every day. As part of AU’s
ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2020, we are
committed to cutting back on our electricity use. The
number one strategy we employ is to be more efficient with our energy use, and there is a lot you can do
to help. First, check out AU’s online energy dashboard
at http://buildingdashboard.net/american to see how
much energy your building is using in real-time, and
whether it’s higher or lower than average. You’ll be
able to watch as our energy use plummets during AU’s annual Holiday Energy Break in December—and we’ll need your help to
make sure it happens on DATE. Click here to find the Holiday Energy Break checklist you can use to help us save. Finally, read on
below to find more helpful tips, news, and activities you can do to help us “kill a watt” and score high in GO!.
We Need Your Feedback
Take the Transportation Survey
Let us know how you get to campus, and win fabulous
prizes! Take the AU transportation survey on Friday,
November 7 and you could win a Capital BikeShare
membership, EagleBucks, a Whole Foods gift certificate, or a Kindle Fire. Here’s how:
1.
Check your e-mail for the AU transportation survey on Friday, 11/7
2.
Ask your coworkers to take the survey
3.
Win fabulous prizes
4.
Help AU achieve LEED certification for 25 campus
buildings and improve our transportation infrastructure based on your feedback
Energy Snapshot: Capital Partners
Solar Farms
Energy efficiency is a major component of AU’s 2020 carbon neutrality commitment. For the electricity that we still use, AU will
source 50% of it from
three new solar farms being built North Carolina as
part of the Capital Partners Solar Project in collaboration with George
Washington University
and GWU Hospital. The
first of these facilities—
soon to be the largest on
the east coast—is already
under construction and was recently toured by AU students and
staff. Click here to learn more about the Capital Partners Solar Project and AU’s climate commitment.
Photo Credit: Megan Litke, AU Sustainability Manager
American University Office of Sustainability
american.edu/sustainability | sustainability@american.edu | 202-885-6262
Not sure where to start? Here are 3 simple
actions you can take to start earning points this
month at american.edu/AsustainableU.
1. Check Your Building’s Energy Use on AU’s Energy
Dashboard
2. Use Daylighting When Possible
3. Set Computers to Energy Saving Modes
GO! October Champions
Congratulations to the following individuals and offices who
achieved the highest scores in AsustainableU in October! Each
individual will receive their choice of EagleBucks or a donation to
the AU Sustainability Fund.
Individuals
1) Alyssa Rohricht, CAS Dean
2) Erin Nixon, CAS Dean
3) Jenise Overmier, Library
4) Mia Raths, HDP
5) Amy Simonsen, SETH
6) Sophia Benedicktus, HDP
7) Paul Oh, Registrar
8) Erica Gillaspy, CAS Dean
9) Peter Starr, CAS Dean
10) Jessica Townsend, SETH
Offices
1) CAS, Office of the Dean
2) Office of the Registrar
3) Housing & Dining Programs
4) SPA, Office of the Dean
5) Facilities Management
6) SETH
7) University Library
8) Dept. of Economics
9) Dept. of Math & Statistics
10) Dept. of Computer Science
In 2013, the carbon saved during
the Holiday Energy
Break was same as
taking 330 cars off
the road.
GO! scores are determined by adding the number of
actions taken by each individual with weighted averages of those actions’ impact in terms of greenhouse
gas, water, and electricity reductions. Learn more at
american.edu/greenoffice.
Myth Busters
Did You Know?
330
GO! Scoring
Each year during winter break, AU’s buildings also get some much-needed rest, saving electricity and greenhouse gas emissions. This year, buildings will be closed
between 12/23 and 1/2. Complete the
Energy Break checklist in your building by
12/23 to help our FM staff with this substantial project.
*Car equivalency data from EPA carbon calculator
Upcoming GO! Events
Friday, November 7
Tuesday, December 23
AU Transportation Survey
Holiday Energy Break
Check your e-mail
Complete checklist by 12/23
If it’s too hot/cold, there is nothing I can do.
If you don’t have temperature controls in your space, you can
still help adjust the temperature to be comfortable. Please report uncomfortable temperatures to 2FIX, and it can be adjusted remotely. If you see a non-functioning lightbulb, a toilet that
won’t stop flushing, or anything else that seems amiss, please
report that too!
Here’s how:
 E-mail 2fix@american.edu
 Call 202-885-2349
 Go to the myAU portal and select 2FIX—Facility Repair
Request under “Services” in Personalized Links. You can
even check the status of your request later.
GO! Resources
american.edu/greenoffice
(202) 885-6262
facebook.com/GreenAU
twitter.com/GreenAU
American University Office of Sustainability
american.edu/sustainability | sustainability@american.edu | 202-885-6262