Updated Abstract: Our goal is to assess the difference in energy usage (in non-hard wired devices only) in the student population of a new dorm building and an old dorm building. We want to know if a newer building, with more efficient lighting, heating/ventilation and insulation, requires fewer additional energy consuming devices, such as lamps, fans, and space heaters on the part of students, than an old dorm with poor lighting, heating/ventilation, and insulation. By analyzing this data, we will be able to assess the effects of building condition on the daily energy consumption of the students living in the building. This data, potentially paired with overall energy consumption of the entire building, could provide insight into the ways in which older buildings are less energy efficient.

Roles/ Activity Plan:

Steffi and Jordan will check out the WattsUpPro and generate preliminary Watt usage amounts for all relevant electronic devices. (i.e. fans, space heaters, lamps of various sizes, hot water heaters, televisions, game consoles, refrigerators,  microwaves ect.) As they survey, we will use the WattsUpPro to assess misc. devices. (11.15.11)

• ·All three of us will generate a questionnaire for applicants on daily device energy usage. (We will correspond via email to complete by 11.18.11)
• ·Steffi and Jordan will survey 10 students in each of the two dorms. We will use identical (or close to identical) rooms from Davison and Lathrop. Those two dorms are identical except that one was renovated two years ago, and the other was last renovated in the 70s. (11.19-20.11)
• ·Neal will complete all data analysis and do the write up. He will look for trends that differentiate the building’s general energy consumption. (Complete as soon as project data is available)
• ·Jordan will correspond with the administration to acquire the necessary data on building schematics and energy usage. (He will send emails immediately, hopefully responses will be rapid.)

Science/Technology:

We will be using the WattsUpPro to calculate energy usage by Watt. Energy and energy conservation are the driving scientific ideas behind our project. We will study the effect of building construction and dorm culture on energy usage.

Expected Outcomes:

We anticipate greater energy usage in non-hard wired devices among students living in the older dorm building. We expect that the infrastructure of the newer building (lights, heating/ventilation, and insulation), will necessitate fewer non-hard wired devices among students.