Energy Conservation Tips

All Plymouth State University (PSU) students, faculty and staff can help the energy conservation effort by:

Computers

·         Screen savers do no save energy but giving your computer a nap does.  Enable power management features so your computer monitor and hard drive will go into a low power (blank screen) “sleep mode” when not actively in use.

·         Keep all computer equipment off unless in use – especially at night and on weekends.

·         Turn off your monitor when you go to lunch or to a meeting.

·         Turn off monitors on servers.

·         Enable power management features on laser printers and/or turn off laser printers when not actively printing.

·         When purchasing computers and peripherals, buy low wattage equipment certified by the EPA’s “Energy Star” program and be sure to enable power management features when setting up equipment.

Special note to computer lab operators: minimally, power management features should be enabled on all monitors in computer labs.  Sleeping monitors save energy as well as screens and will keep you lab cooler.  Also, when lab use is low (e.g. late hours, during breaks, or summer semesters), it may be possible to provide full service to your users while keeping off some or many of the computers and monitors in your lab.  Experiment to see what the minimum number of operating computers is actually needed.

Lights

·         Turn off unused or unneeded lights.

·         Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting whenever possible.

·         Try task lighting and reduce overhead lighting.

·         If you have a desk lamp, make sure it uses a compact fluorescent bulb.

·         Don’t use decorative table lamps.

·         Do not use halogen floor lamps in any campus buildings.  These lamps are very energy wasteful and may pose a safety risk.

Heating and Cooling

·         Dress appropriate to the season and keep thermostats set to achieve 68 degrees (PSU standard) in the winter and 76 degrees (PSU standard) for air conditioned spaces in the summer.

·         During the heating season, open blinds, drapes and curtains to let sun in.  If no sun, close them to keep the heat in especially at night.

·         During the cooling season close blinds, drapes and curtains to block direct sun.

·         Use hot water sparingly.

Windows and Doors

·         Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air conditioned areas.

·         Close vestibule doors when propped open.

Other Equipment

·         Purchase only energy-efficient models.

·         Turn off all energy-consuming office and research equipment when not in use (e.g. copiers, refrigerators, environmental rooms, ovens, fume hoods, etc.).

Water Savings

·         Limit the use of domestic hot water - use cold water whenever it will do.

·         Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face.

·         Take shorter showers.

·         Please report all steam, water and air leaks by entering a work request.

·         Put food coloring in your toilet tank.  If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

·         Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwashers.

    Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.

·         Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily.

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