USD spends the most on electric bills
Last year, the University of South Dakota spent more than $3 million on utilities.
The four main utilities — electricity, sewage, natural gas and water — are split between academic buildings and auxiliary facilities, which are residence halls and student centers, such as the Muenster University Center.
The cost of utilities from June 2012 to May 2013 was $2.1 million for academic buildings and $877,472 for auxiliary buildings.
Electricity was the most expensive utility, costing the university $1.9 million. Natural gas followed with $745,140.
Water and sewer costs were the least expensive, totaling $205,108 and $206,245.
Sophomore Melissa Hessman said she and her roommates conserve electricity in their dorm.
“I don’t think I use that much electricity,” Hessman said. “Normally, we have the blinds open.”
Hessman said keeping the blinds open and lights off isn’t something her roommate and she do consciously to be sustainable, but the two do make an effort to recycle. When it comes to other utilities, like water and sewage, she said it is harder to cut back.
“You kind of have to live with water,” Hessman said.
Junior Mason Horacek lives off campus, but said he does a few things to go green.
“I turn off my fan when I’m sleeping and unplug things when I’m not using them,” Horacek said.
His faucet drips, but Horacek said he has tried different tricks to stop it.
“It’s less than pennies per drop, but it all builds up,” Horacek said.
Saving energy and conserving utilities is harder for other students on campus, like sophomore Sarah Wadsworth.
“I use my fan all day, every day,” Wadsworth said. “I’m not the best at saving energy.”
Wadsworth said there is less motivation to save energy when it is a fixed cost on tuition. She said she has heard her hair straightener and blow dryer, which she keeps on after she leaves the shower to heat her room, use large amounts of energy.
“I had it going all the time,” Wadsworth said.
However, Wadsworth said she hardly ever turns on the main light in her room, but uses either a sunlight or a lamp.
“Sometimes, when I go to the bathroom, or I’m in a hurry, I leave everything on,” Wadsworth said.
