Students get the ‘switch-off’ message

26th September 2011

Cardiff University and Cardiff Students’ Union have set up a joint environmental campaign to improve students’ eco-friendliness and to prepare first year students for the reality of paying bills when moving into their own student houses.

‘Student Switch Off’ is a non profit campaign that encourages students to save energy in halls of residence.

Cardiff has signed up in time for the arrival of first-year students and is the only Welsh institution to have joined the campaign. Electricity monitors have been installed in several halls of residence and there will be competitions throughout the year, to see which one saves the most power, earning students various prizes.

Universities involved with ‘Student Switch Off’ have collectively saved over 1,580 tonnes of C02, over £34,000 in electricity expenditure and in 2010/2011 there was an average reduction in electricity usage in halls of 7% across 37 institutions.

Chris Davies, the Cardiff Students’ Union welfare officer, told the student newspaper Gair Rhydd: “We are very happy that Cardiff University has chosen to be the first Welsh institution to sign up to the big ‘student switch off’. Major components of the Union’s new Strategic Plan, are partnership and sustainability, making this a fantastic scheme for us to be involved with. When students move out of halls they are hit with the reality of bills; if first years can learn a few energy saving tips and tricks, they will end up easily reducing their bills and have a huge impact on a sustainable future.”

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