Climate Change

The Solution

How To Reduce your Plug Load:
Plug all devices (except appliances or electronics that need ongoing power, such as refrigerators, freezers,and cable recording devices) into power strips.

This makes it easy to shut them down at the plug level when they’re not in use.

Improve you computer housekeeping:
Program computers to automatically go to SLEEP mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.  Going from active monitor mode to sleep reduces electricity use from up to 90 watts to less than four watts. Download free monitor and computer power management tools from Energy Star.  Even when in sleep mode, or OFF, a computer still draws up to 200 watts; turning it off at the power strip during the night and weekends will noticeably reduce energy use. You can download free software that’ll power your computer down when it’s not in use.

Periodically take a walking tour of your school. 

Unplug appliances that are seldom used.  Try to create an environment in which leaving unused electricity using equipment on is akin to throwing litter in the hall.

• For desktops that are on 24/7 at $.17/kwh, shutting off just one computer using a power strip saves roughly $125 annually. For a 30 PC computer lab, that’s $3,750 in cost savings.

• For a free download of monitor and computer power management tools visit:  www.energystar.gov/powermanagement

• Program your computer to automatically go to SLEEP mode after 15 minutes of inactivity

• Going from active monitor mode to sleep reduces electricity use from up to 90 watts to less than four watts.

• You can download free software here that’ll power your computer down when it’s not in use.

Consider using laptops

• Laptops can use half as much energy as desktops and are particularly appropriate for faculty members.
  

Turn the chiller off in water drinking fountains during colder seasons.

Shift usage to off-peak rates - before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m.  for cleaning and cooling.

Put the theme of energy conservation in school newsletter

Ask custodians to shut off power to vending machines at night.

Install vending misers on vending machines.

Installing a vending miser is the easiest way to make your vending machine energy efficient and save you money. By monitoring the ambient temperature in the machine, it allows only enough power to keep the product inside cooled to the right temperature.  This decreases the amount of unnecessary compressor cycles and powers down the heat generating lights when no one is around.

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