In a national competition organized by the Environmental
Protection Agency, buildings around the country were challenged
to decrease energy use over the course of a year. The winning
building was a dorm at UNC-Chapel Hill, which reduced energy use
by 35.7% and saved more than $250,000 on energy costs. How did
they do it? Mostly, with all the energy-saving methods you hear
about all the time. An EPA press release explains: Competitions
between dorm floors encouraged students to turn off lights and
computers, and reminders were posted in elevators, bathrooms,
and common areas. Improvements to the heating, ventilation and
air conditioning system, as well as lighting improvements,
helped to increase the building’s energy efficiency and maximize
savings. Some of the energy-saving techniques were more high-
tech. According to the WSJ, the runner-up, a Sears store in
Maryland… wielded thermal-imaging cameras to detect and minimize
heat generated by equipment powering the store. Overall,
however, the easiest and simpl