Have you been doing it in the dark? We have just entered the second week of the Husky Energy Action Team’s (HEAT) third annual Do It In The Dark competition, a three-week energy saving initiative for all students living in residence halls on campus. The students from the winning residence hall will receive free massages for one day during finals week and will be entered in a raffle for MP3 players and bike rentals, not to mention bragging rights for the next year.
As of Sunday night, Light Hall was in the lead, having reduced their energy usage by 10 percent compared to normal levels. So, if you haven’t been turning off the lights when you leave a room, and you want to get a free massage instead of studying for that chemistry final, you had better get on it.
There are many easy ways to save energy in your hall:’ Use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs, change the computer settings to ‘energy saving mode,’ unplug appliances when not in use, wash clothes in cold water and turn down the heat. These actions not only help your hall’s chances of winning, but also help you get rid of your energy-wasting habits. In case you haven’t noticed, saving energy immediately translates to saving money when you are paying your own bills.
Climate change is a hot topic and there is so much discussion on investing in a new energy economy, which definitely needs to be done. However, what is not talked about enough is that energy conservation and efficiency are the first and most important steps to a sustainable energy future. Right now, most of the energy we consume is wasted. Think about how much energy you would save if your computer was only on when you sat in front of it.
If everyone only used the amount of energy they needed, we wouldn’t be in the energy crisis we find ourselves in. We need to move toward a sustainable energy culture, which requires small lifestyle changes.
By competing in Do It In The Dark, students are made aware of their energy consumption habits, and can examine where they need to improve. By handing out energy-saving tip sheets, HEAT makes it easy for students to make small but important changes in their lives, which will hopefully stick with them.
Make sure to stay updated on who is in the lead by going to our website, www.heat.neu.edu, and attending our events. We will be handing out more glow-in-the-dark condoms and other freebies at each event and at tables in the Curry Student Center during activities periods.
Keep doing it in the dark until April 3. May the best hall win.

‘- Jessica Dervin-Ackerman is the director of policy for HEAT.