Energy Conservation


WHAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY:

Personal Spaces

  • Turn off lights in unoccupied areas and at the end of the day.
  • Do not block air vents/grills.
  • Keep equipment that release a by-product of heat (printers, coffee pots, etc.) away from thermostats.
  • Keep shades/blinds closed during the cooling season (summer) to reduce the effect the sun has on heating the space.
  • Keep shades/blinds open during the heating season (winter) to let the suns heat assist in warming the space.
  • Personal computers should be turned off when not in use for extended periods of time. At a minimum, set the monitor and computer hard drive to enter “sleep” mode after about 15 minutes of inactivity.
  • Use community refrigerators and coffee pots. Personal appliances use high amounts of electricity, and can also be dangerous.

Community Spaces

  • Turn off lights in unoccupied areas and at the end of the day, including hallways and other community areas. NOTE: Common areas have a few light fixtures that are not controlled locally (by a switch) and will remain on at all times for safety.
  • Do not prop exterior doors open, even for short periods of time.
  • For buildings with vestibule doors (a set of doors immediately after a set of entry doors), neither set of doors should never be propped open. NOTE: Building mechanical systems are designed for vestibule doors and run most effectively when these doors function in the proper manner.
  • Do not hesitate to notify Facility Services at ext. 1361 when you discover building issues (running toilets, leaky faucets, broken windows, etc.).

Apartments/Miscellaneous (spaces with individual heating/cooling units)

  • Set units to 60° during the heating season (winter) when not occupied, especially during extended breaks.
  • Set units to 80° during the cooling season (summer) when not occupied, especially during extended breaks.
  • Replace light bulbs with the lowest wattage bulb (usually compact fluorescent) that effectively illuminates the space.
For more ideas, visit the University Sustainability Council website.

IMPORTANT

Space Optimization-Building Coordinators

  • Combine activities during reduced occupancy periods (evenings, weekends, breaks, and holidays) to single floors of the building. NOTE: Most buildings are heated/cooled on a floor by floor basis with mechanical equipment serving each floor independently. Therefore, by combining these activities to single floors/areas during reduced occupancy periods, we are able to “set-back” multiple pieces of equipment to save tremendous amounts of energy.
  • Fully understand what specific hours your facility is going to be used during reduced occupancy periods.
  • Only request normal occupancy hours during weekends/breaks/holidays when the facilities activities require such temperatures. The Energy Management Staff can save more energy when larger periods of time can be “set-back.” NOTE: It has been observed that facilities requesting normal occupancy hours during weekends/breaks/holidays in fact do not have many occupants during the requested time period.