GSU Vending Miser Initiative

Vending machines are a hidden source of unnecessary energy consumption; we can strengthen the sustainability movement underway at Georgia Southern University by retrofitting existing vending machines with energy-saving devices (the VendingMiser) This gadget uses infrared motion sensors to turn the vending machine off in times of inactivity, thus saving the University $10,000 in electricity costs. The students of the Sustainability Effort (11 GSU students) plan on purchasing enough VendingMisers to outfit vending machines in two buildings (roughly 12 VendingMisers). We will purchase and install these VendingMisers in these buildings, as well as educate the student body about our energy reduction goals. We will continue to pursue more money in order to outfit all of campus as well as community buildings (local schools, the library, boys and girls club, etc.) A single VendingMiser costs $179, and a VendingMiser for a non-refrigerated Vending Machine costs $79. In order to outfit 12 machines (9 refrigerated and 3 non-refrigerated), it will cost $1,848. Our Sustainability Effort has raised $945 from local organizations to date in order to fund this project. Another aspect of this initiative is to educate students on sustainable living and energy conservation. Initially, we plan on doing this by creating a sign (out of recycled material) illustrating the benefits of energy reduction that VendingMisers can (and will) bring to Georgia Southern University.