1. Energy
  2. What you can do

What you can do

Reduce your energy consumption

 

An icon of a human head with a light bulb in it.

In the classroom:

  • Use only as much lighting as you need. Many classrooms have the option of turning on multiple rows of lights, but you might only need one or two. On sunny days, take advantage of natural light. Always remember to turn off the lights when you leave.
  • Keep shades open or closed to either allow sunlight to heat during winter or to prevent heating during summer.

In the office:

  • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in desk lamps. Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) and LED lightbulbs can drastically cut energy consumption and don't give off as much heat as a traditional incandescent lightbulb.
  • Turn off lights when areas are unoccupied, especially in common spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Take advantage of a sunny day by opening blinds and using the sun instead of overhead lights.
  • Always turn off your monitor when your computer is not in use.
  • Unplug appliances that are not in use and use a powerstrip. Not only will it help protect your electronics during a power surge, but makes it easy to turn off multiple electronics all at once.
  • Instead of using the elevator, take the stairs. You'll save energy and get some exercise. The average office elevator consumes 350 watts of electricity to travel from one floor to the next.
  • Enable power-saving features on equipment like copiers, fax machines, and printers. Make sure your default is set to double-sided paper.
  • When it comes time for new office equipment and supplies look for energy efficient, recycled, or used products first.

In your residence hall:

  • Be sure to use Compact Fluorescent light bulbs in all room lamps or, even better, cut back on the number of lamps in your room and use natural lighting whenever possible.
  • Turn off lights when areas are unoccupied, especially in common spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Unplug electronics from the wall when they are not in use, especially those that are rarely used. Many appliances continue to draw power even when they are turned off.  
  • Purchase Energy Star appliances only: refrigerators, microwaves, computers, etc.
  • Bring your bike to campus.
  • Purchase your school supplies with high recycled content, durable binders for reuse, and try to buy used books.
  • Wash cold and air dry. Wash your laundry in cold water or the warm/cold rinse cycle and air dry your clothes whenever possible. Also, be sure that you always wash a full load.
  • If you're not going to be in your room during the hottest time of day, close your blinds to keep the heat out and the cool in.
  • Change the settings on your electronics to go into sleep mode sooner or turn down the brightness to save energy.
  • A ten-minute shower uses approximately 3000 watts of energy to heat the water. Try to take shorter showers or consider taking a cooler shower.
  • Instead of using the elevator, take the stairs. You'll save energy and get some exercise.