Tulane University announced this week that it will showcase its "green" chops with a new dorm room to help educate young consumers about environmentally friendly technologies.

Two freshmen will live in the room, which will contain Energy Star 4.0 certified appliances, technology, and equipment, including ThinkPad X61 Tablet PCs. The school held a contest to choose which two students will get the room.

Students had to write a letter explaining why they think young people should care about energy efficiency and the environmental impacts of energy use. They were also asked: If you could do anything to reach your fellow students, how would you bring their attention to the importance of energy efficiency?

Winners, who have yet to be announced, had to agree to visits, arranged in advance, so students can monitor and analyze energy consumption and savings. They also had to consent to publicity photos. Finally, the winners will be encouraged to share their experiences with energy conservation. The contest is part of an overall Green Tulane plan to raise awareness about energy use and conservation.

"Incoming students are furnishing their first home on their own," Liz Davey, program manager in the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, said in a statement. "We want to encourage them to think about the impacts of their choices from the start."

Tulane students and Energy Star created a showcase dorm room in 2001 under a program established by the U.S. Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy. The purpose was to investigate the savings possible through energy-smart shopping. Hurricane Katrina flooded the room.

Tulane students estimated in a 2003 study that if all students in dorms chose Energy Star-labeled electronics, the university could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2 million pounds and save more than $100,000 in utility bills each academic year.

New Energy Star 4.0 standards for the personal computer have cut the amount of energy use even more. Lenovo's ThinkPad X61 Tablet improves energy efficiency by 59% compared to earlier models. The PCs' power management settings allow users to improve the efficiency another 42%.

GE Lighting, JASCO, Canon USA, and MicroFridge donated Energy Star-labeled lighting, home appliances, and office equipment for the refurbished room.