New ‘Lights Out’ campaign stickers a reminder to save electricity

Nearly all Syracuse University offices and classrooms will soon be sporting the following reminder: “Steppin’ out? Lights out! Help save juice in the ‘Cuse.” This simple and direct message, created by SU philosophy graduate student Bill Hoelzer, has been turned into stickers that aim to curb wasteful campus electricity use. It’s all part of the new “Lights Out” campaign that was started in response to SU community members’ concerns about lights being left on unnecessarily.

The campaign kicked off last fall with a “Lights Out” sticker design contest held by SU’s Sustainability Division, in partnership with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). The contest called on students to create a wall sticker for display above campus light switches to remind students, faculty and staff to turn off the lights when leaving an unoccupied room for more than 10 minutes. As the sticker contest winner, Hoelzer received a $250 SU Bookstore gift certificate from the Sustainability Division.

“I’m honored that my sticker will help remind the campus to turn off the lights and save electricity,” says Hoelzer. “If everyone can get on board with making this a regular habit, the energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions will really start to add up.”

The “Lights Out” message will soon be making its way throughout campus academic and administrative buildings thanks to a team of student volunteers who will help deploy the stickers. The 4×2-inch vinyl stickers feature reusable adhesive so they can be removed and reapplied when cleaning or repainting walls. Stickers will not be displayed in rooms and offices that feature motion-sensor lighting controls or where the walls will soon be repainted.

“We are very pleased to be working with students and NYPIRG on such an important initiative, and grateful for their assistance,” says Melissa Cadwell, marketing manager for SU’s Sustainability Division. “Every light that’s turned off saves electricity and moves us closer to becoming a climate-neutral campus. We’re always looking for new ideas and new ways to partner with students, faculty and staff to make the campus greener.”

“The ‘Lights Out’ campaign is a successful collaboration between NYPIRG and SU Sustainability to build an easy solution that everyone within the SU community can contribute to, and that is to save juice in the ‘Cuse,” says Alejandro Fernandez-Lovo, NYPIRG project coordinator. “These eye-catching stickers will be friendly reminders to anyone, whether it be students, faculty or staff, that the last person who leaves must flip the switch.”

NYPIRG is New York state’s largest student-directed environmental, consumer and government reform organization. The SU Sustainability Division promotes sustainable practices that reduce the University’s environmental impact in an economically responsible manner. Members of the SU community are encouraged to view SU’s full Climate Action Plan to learn more about the University’s goals and path toward climate neutrality.

To suggest a location that could use a “Lights Out” sticker, volunteer to place the stickers in campus buildings or discuss a green idea to implement on campus, contact SU’s Sustainability Division at sustain@syr.edu.