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Home > Featured Stories > Engaging Society > March 2008 > NC State Wins Water ChallengeNC State Wins Water Challenge
Work continues daily to move us towards more sustainable operations where our use of water is concerned.
Wade Fulghum, energy conservation coordinator at NC State
By Dave Pond, Web Communication
NC State 3, UNC 0.
The Wolfpack's most recent victory over the Tarheels came not on the hardwood or the gridiron, but in a head-to-head battle of greater importance – water conservation. NC State swept UNC-Chapel Hill in all three categories of a 95-day, water-saving showdown between the universities' residence-hall students: the decrease in the amount of water used by each participating student per day, the average amount of water used per student per day and the overall percent of reduction per student per day.
Over the course of the three-month competition, which was conceived as a way to respond to the continuing drought in North Carolina, students from NC State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill combined to save more than 11 million gallons of water.
"I'm glad our students won the competition," said Bobby Mills, NC State's student body president. "This is the kind of initiative that gives everyone an opportunity to get involved in a critical issue in our state."
"Win or lose, the water conservation challenge between UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State was a great initiative in making all students more mindful of the ongoing drought in the area," said Brian Sugg, president of Carolina's Residence Hall Association."
Through conservation efforts, upgrading of irrigation systems, and installation of low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilet fixtures across campus, NC State continues to lower its water usage. The university has cut water consumption by 29 percent over the last five years – even though the campus population has grown by 10 percent – and since July 2007, NC State's water conservation measures have produced a savings of 57 million gallons over the same period from 2006-07.
"We're not resting on our laurels," said Wade Fulghum, energy conservation coordinator with NC State's Office of Energy Management. "Work continues daily to move us towards more sustainable operations where our use of water is concerned."
In November, Mills and NC State Chancellor James Oblinger issued the challenge to UNC Chancellor James Moeser and the Carolina students, Prior to the start of competition, the universities established initial baselines showing NC State residence hall students using 31 gallons of water per day to UNC-Chapel Hill's 34.
"NC State started off with a lower baseline as well, which made this 'victory' even more challenging and meaningful," Fulghum said.
The following totals highlight the overall decrease in water used per student per day, average water used per student per day and percent reduction per student per day.
- Decrease in water used per student per day (gallons): NC State 9, Carolina 8
- Average water used per student per day (gallons): NC State 22, Carolina 26
- Percent reduction per student per day: NC State 29, Carolina 24
"This was a competition," Mills said, "but in reality, we were working together with the students at Chapel Hill for a good cause."
