Q: How are the winners determined?

 
A: We are proposing a competition based on percent reduction in electricity and water use.

 

Q: How is the baseline calculated?

 
A: We are calculating the baseline by: comparing the average rate (kW) of consumption during the baseline with the average rate (kW) of consumption during the competition period. The baseline is calculated using the following equation:

 

1 – (average rate during competition / average rate during the baseline)

 

Assumptions: (kWh / hours elapsed) = average kW; kW = rate

 

Q: Why isn’t the previous year considered in the calculation?

 
A: Using a baseline immediately prior to the competition allows us to more optimally normalize the data for two reasons:

 
The first has to do with the inherent efficiencies of a building, which can change over time. Often facilities upgrades are done over the summer, and comparing a building against its previous year’s performance could skew the results to show reductions which are due to changes in the building itself, not behavior.

 
Part of the goal of this competition is to inspire students by showing them that personal actions can collectively make measurable differences in consumption. We think having a baseline that represents the current occupants of a building is a more accurate way of measuring the effect of a group of students changing their behavior.

 

Q: Are data being normalized for weather between the baseline period and the competition period?

 
A: For the 2012 competition we are not normalizing for weather. As temperatures change it is true that a building’s consumption changes, but only when a significant portion of that building’s electricity usage is from heating or cooling. For CCN we have decided not to allow buildings with electric resistance heating to participate, as the change in temperature during the competition would significantly increase overall building consumption.

 
Water is also unlikely to be affected by changes in weather. Very few schools irrigate landscapes from water lines that feed residence halls, and most of that irrigation is not done during the competition time period, so it is unlikely that water usage will be affected.

 

Q: How often will readings be taken during the competition?

 
A: Every school will have to submit data at least once a week, though more frequently is acceptable. We ask that readings not be submitted more than once every two days.