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UTSA Employee and Student Named First Watt Watchers "I would go and take a peek to see if it was open," Coleman said. "It wouldn't matter if it was 30 degrees or 105 out. That door was open." Always resource conscious, Coleman became even more so when she was appointed to serve on the university's Conserve Energy Campaign Steering Committee. UTSA recently launched the Conserve Energy: Waste Not, Watt Not Campaign at the Tri-Campuses to raise awareness about the energy challenges facing the institution. This year, UTSA experienced a $1.1 million increase in utility costs. Coleman saw that $1.1 million flying out the open door. "Every day I would see students exiting from the door, and it would stay open," said Coleman. "It would drive me crazy!" No one knew better Coleman's passion regarding the open door than did Charlie Saldana, a work-study student in the department. "Vivian, I closed that door for you," Saldana said one day as he came in to work. Coleman went to see, but already the door was ajar again. Determined, Coleman said, "Charlie, grab the tape." And, armed with small green signs, Vivian and Charlie took steps that helped to contain a part of UTSA's "million-dollar" leak. "We put up a small sign on each door which politely asks users to keep the door shut, and do you know that the door stays shut now 99.9 percent of the time," she said with a smile. "I think it is subliminal. Whatever it is, it's working." It also goes to show the importance of remembering that one person--or in this case, two--can make a difference, a crucial part of the educational message that Vice President for Business Affairs David Larson wants to convey to every member of the Tri-Campus community. "Each single act of conservation can and does make a difference," he said. "For example, if each one of us turned off the light every time we left an empty office or room, all those individual minutes would soon mean a savings in kilowatt hours. "I commend Vivian and Charlie for taking action!" Your comments and energy conservation stories, tips and suggestions are welcome and needed. Please e-mail them to wattwatchers@utsa.edu. Send
your comments and items to: UTSAToday@utsa.edu.
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Everyone
in the department where Vivian Coleman works knew about "the door."
Every day, Coleman would look at it through the window in the University
Advancement vice president's office, where she is an administrative
assistant. From her vantage point on the fourth floor of the John Peace
Library Building, she could clearly see that first-floor Business Building
door...standing open.