Riker Hall wins water usage competition among residence halls

March 1, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Riker Hall is the winner of the “2011 Eco-Challenge: Battle of the Halls” water usage competition in University of Florida residence halls.

Riker residents saved 15.22 gallons of water per resident, per day in January 2011 compared to January 2010. This is a savings of 82,538 gallons.

This year, 16 of 24 residence hall communities, or 67 percent, used less water per resident, per day during the competition. The water savings ranged from slight to impressive, from .22 to 15.22 fewer gallons of water per resident, per day in these halls.

Five halls used slightly more gallons of water per resident, per day in the .24 to 1.06 more gallons per resident, per day range. Three halls had disqualified meter readings for the comparison time periods.

“The purpose of the Inter-Residence Hall Association Eco-Challenge: Battle of the Halls is to encourage awareness of lifestyle changes that can save resources as well as save money,” said Britany Ziems, director of IRHA Environmental Concerns. “These choices positively impact our environment and provide lifelong benefits to UF students.”

Cost savings campuswide as a result of this competition are moderate and are viewed in the context of a yearlong budget for utilities. The utility charges campus residents pay are a pass through cost included in semester rent. Utility charges for the fiscal year are set each March and are based on usage averages established over many years and the prevailing water rates charged by local utility providers.

The competitions are co-sponsored by the Inter-Residence Hall Association and the Department of Housing and Residence Education Green Team, Gator Dining Services, and the UF Office of Sustainability. The winners of the energy challenge and overall winner will be announced in March. The winning residence hall communities will be recognized at UF Earth Day on April 1.