In Chico, a student organization is working with various departments to implement an energy saving software program.  Power Save by Faronics, sends a message to the computer control system to power down when not all programs are active to save energy. According to Faronics, the average computer uses about 100 watts per hour while completely powered up. When kept on for a full year, that computer will send 750 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air or what is”the equivalent of driving 820 miles in the average, according to Faronics.

By powering down the computer during the wee hours of the night when students aren’t using them, the university saves operating costs and the environment. 

A major effort underway at LSU is converting their already florescent lighting to more efficient, remote controlled lighting. The Metasys software is currently being used to control heating and cooling, which is also receiving some energy efficient upgrades, throughout the campus and will now incorporate lighting as well. 

Many of these campuses are participating in the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, an effort to reduce a college’s impact on the environment through student and faculty innovation and leadership. These schools are driving change and energizing government and business. 

Today’s students will lead Wall Street, corporate America, the grain belt, and all of the country to energy efficiency and reductions in greenhouse gas contributions not only because it saves money, a commodity not many have these days, but because it is the right thing to do. Today’s students are green because being green is mature, intelligent, responsible behavior and because this generation wants a healthy world waiting for their grandkids when they hit the college years.