Tips for reducing your energy usage on campus:
- Turn off lights whenever you leave a room.
- Plug all cords into one electrical strip and turn the strip off whenever you leave. Many appliances and electronics consume energy even when you’re not using them. Also make sure that appliances such as toasters or coffee pots are unplugged whenever not in use.
- Put plastic insulation over windows or weather stripping doors in your home or dorm room to improve energy efficiency and cut your heating or cooling costs up to 40%.
- Wash clothes in cold water only.
- Bring a cloth or reusable bag when shopping.
- Turn off your car if idling for more than thirty seconds.
- Buy goods with minimal packaging to reduce your waste by 10% and save 1,200 pounds of CO2 a year.
- Turn off your computer when you’re not using it.
Tips for reducing your energy usage off campus:
- Install compact fluorescent light bulbs which use less energy and last ten times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.
- While away or in bed, set the thermostat to 55° during the winter days. When you are at home, set it for 68° or lower. Put on more layers instead of turning up the heat.
- Air-dry clothes instead of running the dryer.
- Turn the water heater down to 120°.