This fall, the combined efforts of the UNH Unplugged student energy challenge and faculty and staff power-down during the Thanksgiving break saved UNH more than $15,000 in energy costs. “Enough power was saved to power 19 homes for a year,” says campus energy manager Matt O’Keefe.

The winter holiday break gives UNH faculty and staff another opportunity to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by powering down – turning off computers, lights, photocopiers, printers and lab equipment -- before leaving for the break.

“For many of us, powering down is as easy as switching off a power strip or surge protector and flipping the lights when we leave,” says O’Keefe, adding that electronic devices can draw up to 30 percent of their total energy use when they are turned off but still plugged in.

Stoke Hall won this year’s annual UNH Unplugged energy competition, in which UNH residence halls compete to lower their energy use. Stoke used 21 percent less energy during this year’s competition, which ran from Oct. 24 to Nov. 21, compared to the same time period last year. Woodsides (20 percent improvement) and Adams Tower West (17 percent) came in second and third in the event, which is sponsored by the UNH Sustainability Institute and UNH Environmental Advocates.