The "Break Up with Your Space Heater" campaign netted 26 of the energy-sucking devices, saving thousands of kilowatt-hours of energy and money -- and reducing UVA's carbon footprint.
By 2nd-year student Maya Betts
In February, UVA Office for Sustainability hosted a “Break Up With Your Space Heater” campaign to encourage UVA faculty, staff, and students to swap unsustainable space heaters. In return they received a free fleece blanket and were entered for the chance to win a CozyToes™ foot pad.
Space heaters are known to be extremely energy-intensive, which can be costly both financially and for the planet. The high energy use of space heaters is bad for the environment because greenhouse gasses are emitted in the production of electricity. Additionally, space heaters are dangerous and can lead to home and office fires.
Space heaters, in fact, are not permitted within UVA buildings due to their safety hazard and high carbon footprint. Conversely, CozyToes™ heated foot pads use direct heat to keep you warm, use up to 95% less energy than a traditional space heater, and maintain safe temperatures so as to not cause harm to anyone using them.
UVA staff, faculty, and students could register to drop off their space heater or have it picked up from their UVA building. Through this campaign, UVA Office for Sustainability collected 26 space heaters and donated them to local organizations around Charlottesville.
If those who turned in their space heaters were using them for four months out of a year, three days a week, and four hours a day, 7,488 kilowatt-hours per year will be saved, which is equivalent to the average U.S. household’s electricity consumption for over 8 months. Also, through this program, UVA is saving $670.80 per year if the 26 heaters were used as stated above. Every space heater donated brings UVA one step closer to reaching its goal of carbon neutrality.
If you have a space heater and would like to save money and energy you can bring it to a recycling center or donate it to an organization that accepts them. On May 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can bring your space heater to the Ivy Material Utilization Center for their Bulk Waste Amnesty day, click here to register.
Big thanks to everyone who broke up with their space heater during the campaign!
Maya Betts is a 2nd-year student at UVA studying Environmental Thought and Practice and Mathematical Statistics. She works in the Office for Sustainability with the Outreach team and is specifically engaged in faculty and staff outreach. She is especially interested in food waste reduction and thrifting.