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Purpose Approximately 700 colleges and universities have committed to climate neutrality, which will require significant reductions in energy consumption. This paper aims to explore the effectiveness of an Annual Energy Challenge in curtailing electricity use by changing consumption behaviors at one liberal arts college.Design/methodology/approach From 2010 to 2014, Allegheny College (Meadville, PA, USA) ran four-week energy challenges. Electricity consumption was measured and compared to a baseline year of 2008. An alternate baseline, more granular data for 20 sub-metered buildings and historic utility bill consumption trends were further analyzed to identify any persisting change and understand the impact of behavior change separate from efficiency retrofits, changes in population and normal seasonal shifts.Findings Electricity consumption during the challenge period dropped an average of 9 per cent compared to the 2008 baseline and 6 per cent compared to the baseline of the 4 weeks preceding each challenge. Consumption trends changed in the years during challenge implementation compared to the years before engaging the campus community. All analyses reinforce that the challenge reduces electricity consumption. However, results must be analyzed in multiple ways to isolate for behavior change.Practical implications The analyses used to isolate energy challenge results due to behavior change are replicable at other institutions and would allow campuses to compare results and share proven strategies.Originality/value While many campuses organize energy challenges, few have published details about the results both during the challenge and continuing afterwards. Nor has a research explored the need to put results into contexts such as natural seasonal trends to isolate the impacts of behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of an Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chemistry Department campaign to reduce energy consumption in chemical fume hoods. Hood use feedback to lab users is a crucial component of this campaign. Design/methodology/approach – Sash position sensor data on variable air volume fume hoods are remotely collected. A 15 minutes average fume hood sash positions for each laboratory are recorded. Data are compiled monthly and a report with average sash position over time and relative frequency of hood position are delivered to the principal investigators of the labs. Findings – Average sash height is lowered by 26 percent (from 16.3±0.85 percent open to 12.1±0.39 percent open) throughout the department, saving an estimated $41,000/year. Sash position during inactive periods is lowered from 9 to 6 percent open. Half of all department savings occurred in four (of 25) labs. Energy savings are substantially less than original expectations because most installed fume hoods use combination sashes. Labs with vertical sashes use the most energy, and see the most savings from the intervention. Practical implications – Monthly feedback is an effective tool for encouraging better hood use behavior. Potential savings from even large behavior changes can be limited if existing equipment is relatively efficient, so conservation programs should be tailored to the existing conditions. Originality/value – The present analysis provides data on the impact of a program in a relatively efficient setting compared to other fume hood conservation reports. The results have cautionary value for designers of similar programs. A breakdown of a laboratory building utility use is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]