From April 15–30, 2025, seven University residence halls are battling it out to see who can save the most energy and water in the ENERGY STAR® 2025 Battle of the Buildings Energy and Water Conservation Competition.

This just in: Burton-Judson Courts leads in both categories! They have reduced water usage by 8.1% and energy usage by 2.6%!

How can you get more competitive?

• Initiate a conversation about your conservation strategies and remind fellow residents to conserve! Share this page with friends.
• Do an energy inventory and find out what you plug in uses the most energy and evaluate if you can leave it unplugged! Plug load meters (energy usage monitor devices) are available at residence hall front desks for students to check out on StarRez.
• Lamps, TVs, game consoles, toasters, and stereos suck up energy and draw power when seemingly turned off. Take the time to unplug!
• Enable Clean Energy Charging on your phone settings if available and take time to power down your tech.
• Use less water during your morning and evening routines.
• Only run full loads of dishes and laundry.
• Run the water less while you handwash dishes.

View the What Students Can Do To Save Water and Energy poster.

Nota bene: Students have asked, “What about the building heating changing with the seasons? It must skew the results, right?” At UChicago we heat with steam, and this competition measures water and energy.

Plaque presentation ceremonies coming soon. Thank you to all the students who joined the competition! Daily practice makes a habit.

Mid-Contest Standings as of Tuesday, April 22