Friday Night Lights

About FNL

Friday Night Lights was created by a student to reduce energy use in buildings.

Join us most Friday nights at 6:30 PM on the second floor of the Student Union (outside the theater) and turn off lights in academic buildings with fellow students!

  • Registration is required using BGSU Serves
  • Volunteers are split into groups of 4-6 students;
  • Each group is assigned to one or two buildings to visit and turn off lights using data sheets provided;
  • The groups record the lights they turn off and the savings are calculated!
  • Friday Night Lights starts the first Friday of the semester. It does not take place on: University holidays, Friday of the last day of classes, Good Friday, and the Friday before Spring Break.

Looking for Service Credit?

Volunteers can obtain service credit for classes or organizations - just ask for a volunteer verification form when you volunteer!

Savings for the University

  • 2010-2011, $25,000 was saved
  • 2011-2012, $17,000 was saved
  • 2012-2013, $10,500 was saved
  • 2013-2014, $11,000 was saved
  • 2014-2015, $14,000 was saved
  • 2016-2017, $15,248 was saved 
  • 2017-2018, $12,502 was saved
  • 2018-2019, $14,383 was saved
  • 2021-2022, $10,262 was saved
  • 2022-2023, $10,247 was saved

2023-2024, $17,555 was saved

History of the Program

Friday Night Lights was created in 2010 to help reduce energy usage while raising awareness to change the BGSU Sustainability culture. The student noticed lights left on in classrooms on Friday that would be on all weekend unless turned off. Our program has evolved into an iconic movement by BGSU students who have a passion and dedication for energy savings. Our presence on campus has made faculty, staff, and students aware of the impact they have on the environment and the benefit that can come from flipping off the light switch when they leave their classroom, office, or hallway.

Over the years, BGSU has installed motion detectors into almost every building on campus - drastically reducing energy usage in vacant spaces. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students have taken a greater role in manually turning off lights when leaving a space.

The volunteer base has grown to encompass a wide variety of BGSU students from classes to student organizations, from residence halls to Greek organizaions, from groups of friends to dedicated individuals - Friday Night Lights has seen it all. The pandemic prevented Friday Night Lights from taking place, but now that BGSU is back to full capacity, anyone can register to join the movement, make a difference, and have fun!

Updated: 04/24/2024 12:32PM