A University program has saved campus $80,000 since 2010 while also saving the environment.

Friday Night Lights is a program run through the Office of Campus Sustainability where students meet on Friday nights and walk around campus buildings, turning off lights that were left on.

Friday Night Lights was started by University alum Dustin Sabo. He noticed one Friday night that many lights were left on in unused classrooms. With the help of Manager of Sustainability Nick Hennessy, Sabo was able to start up the program.

Students are encouraged to meet every Friday night at 6:30 on the second floor of the Union outside the theater. They are organized into groups and assigned to different buildings.

Volunteers go to each building and turn off lights that have been left on by students and professors.

The program targets classroom buildings because they are not being constantly used during the weekend. Buildings include the Mathematical-Sciences Building, Education Building, Shatzel Hall, Psychology Building, Williams Hall, Business Administration Building, Hanna Hall, Life Sciences Building and East Hall.

A data sheet is used to keep track of how many banks of lights, a rectangular lighting unit on the ceiling, the volunteers shut off in each room. Sometimes lights cannot be turned off because someone is using the classroom or is in the hallways.

The data sheet is used to figure out how much energy is saved, and Hennessy keeps a running statistic of how much money is saved every week.

This program encourages students to help the environment. From the data sheets, Hennessy can use his energy calculations to figure out how many carbon dioxide emissions could have entered the air during the weekend.

Friday Night Lights helps make the University “green.” The simple act of turning off lights has saved the University almost $80,000 since the program started in 2010.

Electricity is the primary source for harmful emissions at the University, which is purchased from coal-fired power plants that release carbon dioxide and other harmful substances into the air.

“By turning off light in empty rooms, Students are keeping the air cleaner and lowering BGSU’s carbon footprint by lowering the emissions of harmful gases which contribute to climate change,” Hennessy said.

Friday Night Lights takes an average 45 minutes, depending on how many volunteers are present.

The program is very popular, Hennessey said. Students enjoy coming because it is a time to be social while also helping the environment, make friends and network.

It is also a good way to earn service hours for a sorority or fraternity, classes, or an organization.

There is no preregistration to join. Anyone can join at anytime.

More information can be found at bgsu.edu/sustainability.