Western University
IN-3: Innovation 3

Rez Powers Down was developed to promote conservation awareness to students as they leave campus and become renters, paying their own utility bills. Additionally, this contributes positively to Western’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy usage. It is a student-run sustainability initiative that has been promoted over the last several years in Western's residences. It is set up so that suite style residences compete against other suite style residences, and traditional style residences compete against other traditional style residences. Over the one or two-week period, students are encouraged to: - Turn off as many lights as possible - Take the stairs instead of the elevator - Turn the thermostat down and dress in layers - Take cooler, shorter showers - Wash laundry in cold water - Unplug electronics and appliances that are not in use Organizers of this event use Facilities Management’s real-time energy dashboard to monitor progress over the week and to determine the amount of energy that each residence saves. The winning residences (one suite style and one traditional style) are given 50% of the utility bill savings generated during the challenge to contribute to damage payments throughout the year, to help fund residence programs, or are donated to a local charity.

In November 2012, London Hall residents reduced energy consumption by 19.3 percent or nearly 18,000 kwh of energy by participating in the Rez Powers Down challenge. Alumni House was second with 10.8 percent savings, while Delaware Hall placed third with 4.5 per cent savings. Overall, participating residences reduced their energy consumption by an average of 5.48 percent, totaling 38,710 kwh and saving Western residences over $4,000. In March 2013, there was another round of this challenge, where all of the residences reduced their energy consumption by more than 8 percent over the two- week period, compared to the previous two weeks. The biggest savers lived in Perth Hall, with average energy savings of 14.3 percent over the two-week challenge, and Alumni House with a close second, saving 12.3 percent. In March and April of 2014, Hospitality Services even contributed to the challenge with candle light dinners and also by highlighting more sustainable options for meals.