Morlan and Harris win this year’s Ecolympics

Photo Courtesy of Braylan Enscoe, Staff Photographer

And this year's winner of Chapman University’s Ecolympics is… drumroll please... the Morlan and Harris residence hall! Coming in second and third are Davis Apartments and Henley Hall.

During this semester's Ecolympics, electrical consumption across all residence halls was reduced by 22%, dropping from 1.16 million kilowatts to 902,000 kilowatts — saving over 260,000 kilowatts of energy. Chapman’s Office of Sustainability equates this to greenhouse gas emissions from 101 electric vehicles driven for a year, carbon dioxide emissions from about 14 homes’ electricity use for a year and CO2 emissions from charging 14 million smartphones.

The Office of Sustainability tracks energy reduction using electrical meters in each dorm. September serves as the baseline month, and energy usage in October and November is compared to the baseline to determine the dorm with the highest percentage decrease in energy consumption.

As a reward for their sustainable efforts, each resident of Morlan and Harris will receive $50 in Panther Bucks, which can be used at various on-campus cafés and dining locations.

Although this year’s Ecolympics has come to a close, the opportunity to make a difference in energy consumption continues year-round. This event serves as a reminder of the large impact more sustainable actions can make. Follow the Chapman Sustainability Instagram for updates on next year’s competition and practical tips to help reduce your carbon footprint.