Energy Conservation Tips

Lights

Turn off unused or unneeded lights

Use natural lighting instead of electric lighting during the day.

If you have a desk lamp, make sure it uses fluorescent bulbs--flourescent bulbs demand less energy.

Heating and Cooling

Call PPD when your room is too hot instead of opening a window--the temperature of the building is set at a certain level and if you open a window, the heating system will just pour more energy into the building, so then you will open your window wider, and the energy spent in the end is absurd.

Dress appropriate to the season.

During the winter open blinds, drapes and curtains to let sun in or, if no sun, close them to keep the heat in. During the summer close blinds, drapes and curtains to block sun.

Use hot water sparingly; have your shower at a lower temperature to save energy.

Computers and Stereos

Keep computers off unless they are in use.

Make sure to turn the stereo 'off' with the power switch instead of just leaving it on when the CD or tape is over.

Turn off printers, especially laser printers, unless printing.

Don't use power strips to turn on all computer and desk equipment at once.

When purchasing computers and peripherals, buy low wattage equipment certified by the EPA's "Energy Star" program.

Minimize use of screen savers and enable power management features so your computer equipment will go into a low power (blank screen) "sleep mode" when not actively used.

Other Equipment

Purchase only energy-efficient models.

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