My name is Rachel and I am from Saratoga, NY about three hours north of New York City. I am a rising senior at Villanova University double majoring in Political Science and Cultural Studies. I was drawn to Building Energy Exchange based on a desire to learn more about energy efficiency and sustainability.

1. Share your favorite energy factoid.
I find it noteworthy that a large percentage of American citizens would like to do more to work on reducing their carbon footprints. About 62% of American households would pay more for environmentally friendly energy solutions if it meant reducing global carbon emissions.

2. What energy campaign would you start in your office or want to share with other offices?
The idea of a Daylight Hour as an annual event where businesses commit to turning off the lights for one hour is inspiring. I would work on sharing this idea with other businesses but also expanding the campaign up to a monthly or weekly basis. Most offices hold weekly staff meetings so it may be easy to combine the daylight hour idea with this allotted time for meetings.

3. What are you currently reading right now?
I am currently reading “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr- highly recommend.

4. What are some ways you reduce your carbon footprint at home?
I generally try to limit my water usage at home. For example, when brushing my teeth or washing dishes, turning off the faucet while it is not necessary can add up to save a decent amount of water. Taking shorter showers is something that has come naturally to me as my schedule fills up and I have less idle time. I could, however, work on turning off the lights more in my home.

5. What is your personal superpower?
My personal superpower is the ability to make endless to-do lists and maintain an almost alarmingly organized calendar.