Seven universities in the Atlantic provinces will compete to see which institution can do the most to reduce its energy consumption for the sixth annual Campus Climate Challenge.

The event, which started at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., has since expanded to include a number of schools. It runs between Jan. 23 and Feb. 6.

Students are encouraged to reduce energy consumption in residences through "innovative and effective ways."

This year the competing schools include: Mount Allison, the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Saint John, Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., the University of Prince Edward Island and Memorial University in St. John's.

Last year, one residence at Mount Allison University was able to cut its energy use by 34 per cent.

"The purpose of the Campus Climate Challenge is to raise awareness of how much energy is being used and how we can make big savings by doing little things," Sarah Thomas, a Mount Allison student and competition organizer said in a release.

"If everyone does their part, we can make a difference."

The university judged to have reduced its energy use the most will win a prize, although the competition's website lists only "fame and glory" as potential prizes. An accompanying release also said there will be prizes within each school.

The competition's website also lists a number of actions that are grounds for disqualification, including removing light bulbs, doing laundry off-campus and sabotaging the efforts of other competitors.