Energy

First of all, you should know that the electricity on campus comes from an old and tired coal burning power plant that produces the white plume of smoke you can see up the lake.  It's fairly clean as coal burning plants go, but two-thirds of air pollution comes from coal plants like ours!  Reducing the amount of electricity will  mean cleaner air, which is good news for all of us.  (Don't forget - it'll save you money, too!)

Here are some easy ways to reduce your energy consumption on campus, in town, and at home:

1.  Buy energy-efficient products.  When buying new appliances of electronics, shop for the highest energy-efficiency rating.  Look for an Energy Star^TM label to find the most energy-efficient models (they use 20-40% less energy than standard new products.  According to the EPA, the average American household can save about $400 per year in energy bills with Energy Star^TM products! (Pay special attention to your refrigerator- they typically count for 20% of a households electric bill! On average, new fridges and freezers are about 75% more efficient than those made 30 years ago, so you can save a lot of money investing in a new one.)

2.  Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs.  They can save you up to $10 per year per lightbulb!

3.  Set your thermostat correctly!  Get an electronic thermostat that will allow your furnace to heat the house at a lower temperature when you're sleeping and go back up to a more comfortable temperature before you wake up.  (A good rule: In the winter, set it at 68^o in the daytime and 55^o at night; in the summer, set it at 78^o.)

4. Turn off the lights.  It's a no-brainer, but it's surprising how often we forget!  Install automatic timers for lights you often forget to turn off, and use dimmers where you can.

5. Use your appliances more efficiently.  The way you use an appliance can change the amount of energy it wastes.  For example:

• Remember that most water heaters work most efficiently between 120-140^o
• Set your refrigerator temperature at about 37^o
• Set your freezer at about 3^o
• Make sure your oven gasket is on tight
• Don't open the oven door to check on food - every opening can reduce the temperature 25 degrees!
• Preheat only as much as needed
• Avoid placing foil on the racks of your oven - food cooks slower
• Clothes dryers kept in warm areas work more efficiently
• Clear lint filter after each load in dryer
• Dry and wash only full loads
• Don't forget, hanging clothing outside is the most energy-efficient method of all!

6. Check your utility's energy-efficiency incentives.  Check with your utility to see if it offers free home energy audits, cash rebates for using energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and lower electric rates for households meeting certain energy-efficiency criteria. 

7.  Weatherize your home or apartment.  Drafty homes and apartments allow energy dollars to leak away!  Seal windows and doors, insulate your home, and block drafts whenever possible.

8.  Let the sun shine in!  Use natural light instead of electric whenever possible. 

9.  Avoid plug load.  The energy used by plugged in office equipment usually accounts for more than 20% of electricity use in offices.  An average plug load for an office amounts to 900kwh of energy per year, or $72 per office employee annually.  Plugged in equipment draws in significant amounts of power even when the machine itself is turned off!  To avoid plug load, turn off unused machines, and when possible, unplug them! Or you can plug items into a surge-protected power strip and just turn off the power strip when the equipment isn't being used. 

10. Buy local groceries.  The average US meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to grocer to your plate. 

11.  Use cold water in your laundry.  According to Proctor and Gamble, only 15-20% of the energy used in doing the laundry is used by the washing machine; the other 80-85% is used heating the water.

12.  Turn off your computer at night, and enable power management features on your computer! Check the Green Office Guide for instructions.

13.  Switch to green power by purchasing renewable energy from your local utility!  If you do have a choice in your energy supplier, go with an electric utility that uses solar, wind, low impact hydroelectric, or geothermal power.   

_Sources:

_{ResourceSmart, Victoria, Australia}

_{National Resource Defense Council}

_{Step It Up 2007}