On Wednesday afternoon, the Hopkins community received an email detailing plans by the University to continue to participate in the Demand Load Response program, a nationwide environmental initiative that strives to reduce electrical emissions at peak temperatures, when electricity generation is most expensive and injurious to the environment. The Demand Load Response program is supported by many gas and electric companies across the country, including Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE).
Due to Wednesday’s excessively high temperatures, BGE called for an event to cut electric activity around 3 p.m.
Hopkins responded by reducing air-conditioning usage across campus. Buildings such as the Ralph O’Connor Recreation Center, the Mattin Center, Gilman Hall and the MSE library experienced a reduction in air-conditioning during this time. While these reductions came with some discomfort to students, faculty and staff, they also enabled the University community to conserve energy and reduce harmful air pollution.
The University’s decision to implement this plan follows a general trend to become more “green” and energy efficient, exemplified by the University’s receipt of several LEED certifications earned for the sustainability of various buildings, including a LEED Gold certification for the newly-constructed Brody Learning Commons in 2012.
Students were also urged to participate in the program by turning off lights in empty rooms and powering down personal electronic devices.
“I think this is good because it saves energy that we don’t really need to waste,” sophomore Ting Lui said. “There really wasn’t any discomfort with the lack of air-conditioning. It was worth it. ”
