Students in the Hill residence community are finding out what it really takes to go green.

On Monday, residents in Boggs, Church, Hill, Lipscomb and Mell halls began competing for the “UGA Green Cup” – an award that will be given to the dorm that reduces water and energy use the most from now until Oct. 11.

“We’re hoping to give students a chance to see how individual effort can impact their daily energy and water use,” said Tyra Byers, sustainability coordinator at the University School of Ecology.

“We’re hoping to extend our education to students about sustainability and how they can conserve,” she said. “Hill community is really great for that because it’s all incoming freshman.”

Byers said bonus points will be given to residents who attend events meant to boost conservation knowledge. UGA Green Cup held its kickoff party on Sunday, which was one opportunity for Hill community residents to earn their respective halls bonus points.

Stephen Feinburg, an ecology major from Atlanta, said the event was successful and he hopes the overall program is as well.

“We got a pretty good turnout. Almost a quarter of the students from the Hill community came out,” Feinburg said. “I wouldn’t say they were excited, but they had a good attitude about the program and getting things done.”

There are several other bonus point event opportunities for residents, including an outdoor film screening, an eco-trivia night and a final celebration, which will be held Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. at Legion Field.

On Sept. 22, UGA Green Cup will host a screening of “Recipe for Disaster,” a documentary about a family that decides to go without using oil products, such as gasoline, or buy anything packaged in plastic, for one year. The film will be shown on the lawn between Mell and Lipscomb halls and the lawn between Hill and Boggs 8:30 p.m.

Ken Crowe, director of energy services at the Physical Plant, said students have plenty of opportunities to cut their energy use in the residence halls.

“It’s easy to make a lot of decisions without thinking about the consequences because you don’t pay the utilities,” Crowe said. “So it’s little things, like if you leave the windows open with the air conditioner on – which was a common thing when I was in the residence hall. But we just weren’t aware, and I’m glad that students are more aware of their actions now.”

For Church Hall, total water costs are about $15 to $20 a day, and electricity costs are $50 to $75 a day, Crowe said.

“But you have to remember that there are a hundred students living there,” he said.

Students living off campus typically pay that amount per month for water and electricity usage, he said.

Byers offered tips for students to reduce their energy use, including unplugging unused appliances, shortening shower time and turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.

“A lot of things are really simple steps people can take. For example, all appliances pull power when they’re plugged in. So students can unplug appliances and conserve a lot of energy,” she said.

Feinburg said it is important for people to be conscious of their energy use.

“We’re not asking people to go cold turkey with energy and water, but we’re just asking people to take small steps,” he said. “I think if everyone is aware of what they’re doing, it will go a long way to decreasing our impact on the environment.”