Area Coordinators
Longwood University
Bristow 202
201 High Street
Farmville, Virginia, 23909
Phone:434-395-2836
Fax: 434-395-2647
email: stimpsonar@longwood.edu
Energy Saving Tips and Facts
You know what they say: every little bit helps! Below is a list of several tips you can employ in your department, office, and home that will save energy and money as well as several fun facts that will make you think before you leave that light on for even just a few minutes!
Energy Saving Tips for Your Office:
Fun Energy Facts:
Turn off lights behind you—even if it is just for a few minutes!
The average home contributes more air pollution than does the average car!
Turn thermostats up just a couple of degrees: just 1 degree in the summer can save 2%-3% in energy cost!
18% of total emissions comes from operating our homes.
Avoid use of mini refrigerators if possible—many use almost as much energy as a full sized one! Look for energy efficient models if you have to have one.
Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical home.
We spend 10% of our electricity bills on lighting.
To conserve energy and reduce internal heat gain, power off computers, monitors, printers and copiers at the end of the day and over the weekend.
If you can, use ink-jet printers - they consume 90% less energy than laser printers.
Keep a sweater or jacket at your desk to avoid the use of space heaters.
90% of the energy used by traditional bulbs is wasted in producing heat.
Use the stairs. Each time you walk up and down 3 flights of stairs instead of an elevator would save 15 Wh a trip, or 450 Wh a month. That would be enough to power a 37" Plasma TV for 3 hours.
Washing clothes at 140 degrees (F) uses almost twice the energy as a 104 degree (F) wash: according to Maytag studies, washing in warm water may be more energy efficient than washing in cold water. Oils emulsify better in warm water than in cold water, allowing less detergent to be used. Detergent is very energy intensive and tends to pollute the environment with phosphates. The other alternative is to use a longer washing cycle, which is counterproductive to energy use as well. The most energy efficient clean clothes are those washed with warm water.
Take advantage of natural daylight: turn off or dim electric lighting when adequate sunlight is available to illuminate interior space.
Plug all radios, cell phone and mp3 chargers, fans and other personal electronics into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use. These devices draw energy 24/7, even when switched off.
At any one time in most households an average of 8 appliances are left on stand-by. (Stand-by is an appliance’s “off” setting, but the appliance continues to use about 85% of the energy it uses while on, often just to listen for signals from remote controls.)
Website designed and maintained by Melissa Pelletier
