Auburn is doing its part to go green this spring as residents on the Quad and Hill participated in the Sustain-A-Bowl competition.
"We created the Sustain-A-Bowl as a contest to give students the incentive to help out the environment in a fun way," said Donald Addison, the Environmental Awareness Organization sponsor. "We hoped to establish lifestyle changes and habits that would stick. We hope to bring back the Sustain-A-Bowl for years to come."
The Office of Sustainability asked these students to reduce their water, electricity usage and trash.
The halls all competed to reduce the most water and power usage and to recycle more.
"I made sure to recycle my water bottles instead of throwing them away," said Danielle Kessler, a freshman in interior design. "I never realized how much I could have been recycling. I want to be sure to continue to recycle from now on."
Sasnett Hall was announced as the winner of the first Sustain-A-Bowl.
The residents had lunch with the president and his wife in the president's executive suite in Jordan-Hare Stadium last Saturday.
Gogue presented them with a Sustain-A-Bowl trophy and everyone who attended had an opportunity to win a bike and other prizes.
"I am extremely proud of our hall for setting an example and preserving the most water and electricity," said Justin Moorhead, a freshman in business. "I made sure to remind our residents and give everyone tips on what they could do to help out."
The total amount of electricity saved was 74,704 kW. In monetary terms that's $5,506. The total amount of water saved was 623,000 gallons, totaling $2,785.
"I did my part by taking shorter showers and making sure I did not leave any lights on while I was not in my dorm," said Brittany Schnorr, a freshman in apparel merchandising. "I realize that small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference."
Everyone else can compete at the play-at-home Sustain-A-Bowl.
Students can turn in their February water and electricity bills to the Office of Sustainability in 200 Langdon Annex.
The winner will be announced in April.
"My roommate and I are competing in the play-at-home Sustain-A-Bowl since we live off campus and not in a dorm," said Julia Blair Snell, a junior in biomedical sciences. "I think it is a great way for us to contribute to the impact on the environment."
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