Genesee Community College Daylight Hour

BATAVIA, NY (06/19/2015)(readMedia)-- What: Genesee Community College Daylight Hour

When: Today! Friday, June 19, 2015, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Where: Genesee Community College (plus All Campus Centers)

One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020

Who: College Community including the GCC Cougar Mascot!

Background:

In an effort to raise awareness about energy savings and the impact State University of New York (SUNY) campuses have on sustainable practices, Genesee Community College is participating in Daylight Hour, today, June 19 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. SUNY currently averages $640,000 per day in total utility costs and the SUNY Office for Capital Facilities is working with campuses on multiple fronts to reduce that number – even GCC's Cougar is helping to send the message (see photo)!

Many offices have their lights on even when they are not needed. Offices near exterior walls and with windows often receive enough daylight to work by without the aid of electric lighting, but most people tend to leave the lights on anyway. This is a critical issue because the times when daylight is most available (summer afternoons) coincides with peak energy demand when businesses are drawing the most energy from the grid. This peak period is the most expensive energy and typically the dirtiest and most harmful to our global climate because the oldest, least efficient plants are brought online to meet this need.

To demonstrate the availability of daylight and draw attention to this important issue, Green Light New York organized the "Daylight Hour"- a single hour in the workday when offices around the world will turn off the lights in day-lit spaces. Participates just need to turn off the lights in their work space if their area has sufficient daylight in their space. It is an optional opportunity and must not diminish the college experience or create an unsafe work environment.

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For a photograph of GCC's Cougar turning out the lights go to:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Daylight_Hour_GCC_Cougar.jpg

Posted Friday June 19, 2015 at 10:14 am by Genesee Community College
Last Updated Friday June 19, 2015 at 10:20 am