Energy and Water Conservation Tips

Lights: Dorms are primarily outfitted with fluorescent bulbs which use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. Consider buying compact fluorescent bulbs when you replace your incandescent bulbs in your personal lamps. When leaving the room, turn your lights off. If you are working in one place for a long time, position additional lights to illuminate areas of focus and avoid lighting unused space. Open the blinds during the day to capitalize on available natural light.

Water: Leaky faucets waste a remarkable amount of water. Often, apparently ‘leaky’ faucets simply haven’t been turned off completely - double check to make sure you have turned off the water after use. Be conscious of water consumption - avoid running the water while brushing your teeth, washing and shaving and take shorter showers. If a true leak exists, fill out a PPD work order online - www.colby.edu/ppd.

Heat: Colby’s heating systems are governed by zone and become available when the average outside temperature drops below 55 degrees. Work cooperatively with people in your zone to improve heating efficiency. Don’t open your windows to control the temperature. This simply releases the energy generated by the heaters and activates the negative feedback loop that causes more heat to be released. For more information about heating questions refer to PPD’s heating guide.

Colby College utilizes an energy management system to monitor and control heating and ventilation systems on campus. Individual building control varies based on building use, building age and sophistication of systems. Buildings are set to meet a target temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fehrenheit. Physical Plant continues to make systems upgrades such as increasing the number of zones, conversions from pneumatics to DDC, and/or making wide use of Variable Frequency Drive equipment.

In general, our energy management systems provide the following scheduled adjustments in buildings where the capabilities exist.

Academic and administrative buildings - The air handlers are scheduled to turn off at night after buildings close the they come back on in time to circulate fresh air through the buildings prior to occupancy in the morning. Perimeter heat is set up to respond to outside air temperature. Air handlers in laboratoroy and science buildings remain on as needed to provide ventilation for fume hoods and other safety reasons.

Residence Halls - The air handlers serving the bathrooms, corridors, and public areas are scheduled to turn off at night after scheduled activities and come back on in time to circulate fresh air through the building prior to occupancy in the morning. Perimeter heat is set to respond to outside air temperature.

Computers and other appliances are major consumers of electricity, see our Energy Star and Computer PAGs for additional tips.