Fifteen universities across the country have teamed up with Hewlett-Packard to see who can save the most energy this November. At WSU, Delta Sigma Phi is spearheading the e-philanthropy.

The effort is a nationwide event where organizations within universities will compete to see who can reduce carbon emmisions. Whichever organization downloads the most applications called Power to Change widgets and saves the most energy will win.

It is about limiting the amount of electricity lost by computers, said Derek Riggs, Delta Sigma Phi treasurer and a junior management and operations major.

“(We want) to show students just how easy it is to contribute to environmental conservation on a global scale,” he said.

Lowering emissions is HP’s mission and getting people to turn their computers off is one way to achieve that. Research shows that a computer running a screen saver uses more energy than one in standby, so disabling that function helps. Also, turning off all electronics when they are not being used, including unplugging power strips, even when the electronics are off, will conserve energy.

The company also wants to make their products re-usable, making recycling easier.

Jamie Erickson, a senior hospitality business management major and student ambassador for HP, said students can visit HP’s Web site to view global statistics for carbon emissions, including energy saved from the project.

Each participant can download a Power to Change widget on the site that will monitor the time the individual’s computer is on during the day. The widget can be found at www.hp.com/powertochange.

“The Power to Change Widget is a great example of a small change making a huge impact,” Erickson said.

Erickson said the widget is easy to download and it allows students to see their individual impact. The widgets and the data compiled will get organizations to donate money.

Each competing organization will donate $40 to the World Wildlife Foundation to help protect natural resources and reduce pollution energy wastefulness.

The philanthropy is a nationwide event with 15 universities competing to see who can save the most energy over this time period.

“The winners are going to get a $200 donation to a charity of their choice, in the name of their organization, courtesy of HP,” Riggs said.

A final round of skits and serenades will be held Nov. 19 at Delta Sigma Phi to help decide the WSU winner of the e-philanthropy. Any organization within the university can participate by e-mailing Eric Blackburn, the Delta Sigma Phi philanthropy chair, at riggsd2003@yahoo.com or e-mailing an HP Ambassador at hpwsu@hotmail.com.

“It’s very eye-opening to see how much it adds up when you just turn your computer off at night,” Blackburn said.

Starting Monday and running through Nov. 20, organizations on the WSU campus will be participating in their first e-philanthropy.