Motivational Aspect of Southwest Texas State Universiy's Energy Conservation Program

Abstract

Southwest Texas State University (SWT), with more than 21,000 students, faculty and staff members, has two primary goals in mind as it constantly attempts to improve its Energy Conservation Program. First, to keep the annual utility bill (which has risen above $5 million) as low as practical, and second, to instill in its students (the leaders of tomorrow) the proper attitude towards the conservation of energy and the environment. A two-prong approach is used in SWT’s efforts. One is the human facet—striving to get each member of the faculty, staff and student body to do his share in the conservation effort. The other is the mechanical aspect—efforts to insure material items (building designs, motors, lights, computerized energy management systems) are energy-efficient. This paper will briefly describe some of the efforts used in the human facet. It will address how using such common things as a sweepstakes in conjunction with monthly energy posters, a seasonal calendar-type informational energy poster, free carpool matching, contests, etc., can be productive in an energy conservation campaign.