‘The W’ electricity usage is a concern in energy challenge

Despite efforts made by EARTH and other Wartburg students throughout the month of February, Wartburg estimates a 2 percent increase in electricity since last year while competing in the Sustainability Challenge against Luther.

One of the main factors responsible for the energy increase is “The W,” co-coordinator of the Sustainability Challenge Eric Dreibelbeis said. 

“’The W’ at the time wasn’t fully operational last year.  So, that could be pulling a little bit more energy,” Dreibelbeis said. 

The increase, however, is lower than the increase in electricity seen last year, which Dreibelbeis said was close to 12-15 percent.

The past two weeks have focused on turning off lights and turning down the heat in buildings around campus. 

Prizes and discounts were used to raise awareness about sustainability.  The bookstore offered 20 percent off sweatshirts and blankets to help promote “Bundle Up” week. 

The main goal of this was to educate students on energy conservation and kind of have a paradigm shift in the way students think about energy. … We think we’ve gotten a lot of students involved who would normally not have been involved,” Dreibelbeis said.  

The Sustainability Challenge has received some criticisms from faculty and staff concerning messages placed in The Page.

“They think that some of the ideas we’ve picked to post in The Page weren’t very serious and reflected poorly upon what we were trying to do.  I personally believe the way we’re running it is bringing people into this that normally wouldn’t,” Dreibelbeis said. 

This week’s theme is “Slow the Flow.”  The main goal of the week is to reduce water usage. Dreibelbeis said Iowa does not have to worry about water conservation due to the immense amount of water present in the state. 

“We don’t necessarily have to worry about conserving it; however, every gallon of water we use in this institution is heated in some way or another. … If we can cut back the length of time using the shower, we’re using less water and less natural gas,” Dreibelbeis said.

Luther has yet to release their energy usage percentages for the first two weeks of the challenge.