BC Cool Campus Challenge
Selkirk College is taking part in the BC Cool Campus Challenge, a province-wide initiative to reduce natural gas use this heating season. The winner will be the institution that collects the most online pledges from students and employees to save energy at their respective institution between January 7 and February 28.
Selkirk is a BC Cool Campus! Take the pledge today!
Post-secondary institutions across the Province are challenging each other to reduce natural gas use and encourage campus community members to take energy conservation actions by signing the BC Cool Campus Pledge. By reducing natural gas use, we can reduce our climate impact and demonstrate climate leadership.
Joining Selkirk College are The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia Institute of Technology, the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University.
Learn more about the challenge.
Come take the pledge, have a chance to win prizes during energy conservation trivia, and bring your own mug for FREE hot drinks.
- In the Pit January 31 from 11 - 1 pm
The Winner, The Prize!
The winner of the BC Cool Campus Challenge will be the institution that collects the most online pledges from students and employees to save energy at their respective institution between January 7 and February 28.
The winning institution will get a branded sweater or warm clothing item from each of the participating institutions. On behalf of the participating institutions, the winning team will donate all the warm clothing items to a local charitable organization to keep more people warm this heating season.
Additionally, the winning institution wins bragging rights as the coolest campus in BC!
What actions are being encouraged, and why?
Simple actions like turning down the heat, wearing warmer clothing, taking shorter showers, and washing clothes in cold water all help to reduce natural gas use and lower our carbon footprint.
Why are post-secondary institutions leading this challenge?
Public institutions have taken this opportunity to be leaders in our community to respond to last year’s pipeline explosion and subsequent provincial natural gas shortage. This challenge is an example of how collaboration can address concerns about energy use. Natural gas is a limited and uncertain non-renewable resource. The purpose of this challenge is to start a conversation on energy dependency and resiliency. How can we engage in energy saving practices in addition to seeking renewable energy resources? Let's take this opportunity to discuss it.
Why is turning down the heat important?
The majority of the energy used on Selkirk College campuses is for heating and cooling systems. By turning down the heat, even by just a few degrees, we save significant amounts of energy and in turn are reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
Why can’t I just plug in a space heater?
We encourage you to layer up and wear a sweater instead of plugging in space heaters.
Space heaters consume significant amounts of additional energy and can also trip electrical breakers, resulting in operational issues that may affect other spaces in your building.
What can I do if my building is too hot or too cold?
To prepare for slightly lower temperatures in buildings, please dress appropriately and wear warm layers as needed. A sweater is better! Look for the upcoming Sweater Day on your campus.
- February 5 – Silver King Campus
- February 6 – Tenth Street Campus
- February 7 – Castlegar Campus