Energy-saving lightbulbs distributed to freshmen

Freshmen were able to cross at least one item off their shopping lists this fall — lightbulbs. Every student in the Class of 2011 was provided with compact fluorescent light bulbs ( cfl s), thanks to a program initiated by the Office of Residential Education, Student Housing and the Campus Housing Efficiency Solutions Program of the Resource Solutions Gr
 
In the U.S., home lighting accounts for roughly one-fifth of total electricity use, making efficient lighting options like cfl s a key to minimizing energy consumption.

Stanford’s cfl program was initiated by Maricela Montoy ‘08, Mike Tom ‘08 and Paul Wilson ‘08. The students, who were inspired by their experiences in the “Energy Saving Projects at Stanford” class, pitched the idea to the Resource Solutions Group with the support of Student Housing’s Sustainability Coordinator Nik Kaestner. The Resource Solutions Group agreed to provide the cfl bulbs for the initiative.

Dorms in which all freshmen use the new bulbs will win an ice cream party.

“[We are] very impressed with how responsive freshmen were and how cooperative they are in using the cfl s,” said the three student organizers in an email to The Daily, citing Paloma as an example of a dorm that has already achieved total cooperation.

Incandescent lightbulbs convert 90 percent of the electrical energy they use into heat instead of light, while cfl s only convert 30 percent into heat. cfl s also last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less energy overall.

cfl s are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, mostly because they contain more glass and electronic components and must be transported from manufacturing plants in China. However, when lights are turned on for more than two hours each day, the lower energy use and longer life spans of cfl s translate into lower electricity bills.

“Through the joint conservation efforts of students and our department retrofit projects, we have reduced annual housing utility costs by $650,000, which helps keep room rates in check,” said Rodger Whitney, executive director of Student Housing, in a Stanford Report press release.

The light bulb project is Stanford’s largest student-led energy saving initiative to date. The effort follows a 2006 pilot cfl exchange program in upperclassmen dorms operated by Student Housing and Students for a Sustainable Stanford. Student Housing is currently working on extending the lightbulb program across campus.

“We are already working with Students for a Sustainable Stanford and the Sierra Club on phase two and will be handing out cfl s to all undergrads soon,” Kaestner said in an email to The Daily.

Student Housing hopes to reach graduate students in the final phase of the project.