When school is in session, universities will see their power bills shoot up. It’s simple math; more students using more energy means a higher overhead while classrooms are full and a semester is in full swing. That cost goes up even higher when the temperature drops, and the heating system must turn on. But what if you could trim down your energy use (and utility costs!) without cutting any services to your students and faculty? Follow these tips to minimize energy use.
Tip #1: Sleep, Shut Down, and Turn Off
There are a lot of electronic devices running on your campus at any given time, but there’s no reason to leave them running if no one is using them. From classrooms to computer labs, make sure lights are off, and devices are powered down when not in use. For maximum savings, consider installing timers on lights and computers to make sure they turn themselves off or go to sleep if they haven’t been in use for an extended time period.
Tip #2: Programmable Thermostats and Automated HVAC
Heating and air conditioning are important when it comes to your campus, but you get the best results if you can program the thermostat to automate itself. For instance, if classes don’t start till eight in the morning, there’s no reason to leave the heating or air conditioning running high all night long. A programmable thermostat allows you to get the building ready for the day, but without wasting energy to run your HVAC system all day, every day.
Tip #3: LEDs Make a Big Difference
If your university still uses old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, it’s time for an update. While fluorescent bulbs are more efficient, and last longer, LED bulbs are the best investment you can make. On a campus-wide scale, they will last longer, and use a fraction of the power that incandescent bulbs use. This is an investment that pays for itself and allows you to boast additional green credentials as a campus.
Tip #4: Promote Paperless Efforts
Going paperless is often touted as saving trees, but it can also save energy overall. Using email instead of post, or instead of a fax, can be done quickly, and efficiently. Not only that, but the less often printers, scanners, and other peripheral devices run, the more power you save.
Tip #5: Put Someone on Energy Conservation
If you really want to keep saving energy, you need to have someone on staff whose job is to make sure you’re being as efficient as you can be. Saving energy is an ongoing job, and it requires constant, dedicated effort.
For more tips on how your university can save more energy, contact us today!
