Understanding Utilities

Leave your light on or the facet running in a University of Arizona residence hall, and it gets counted. Utility dashboard software installed in residence halls allows students to track energy and water consumption, encouraging awareness on energy issues, competition between halls, and overall reduction in consumption.

As part of LEED certification for Arbol de la Vida and Likins Hall, the Lucid Designs Utility Dashboard system was incorporated into the heart of the buildings, allowing students to track total utility usage throughout the building. Now with the support of the Green Fund, this innovative utility dashboard system has been installed in four more residence halls on the UA campus, providing an opportunity for students, many living away from home for the first time, to form positive life-long habits in energy consumption. With the installation of the Building Dashboard software, students can track utility use—and associated cost savings of use reduction—on interactive graphs, charts, comparisons, and competitions from the UA Building Dashboard website from within their own dorm rooms.

For more information about this project, contact: Jill Ramirez, Residence Life, jillramirez@life.arizona.edu