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what you can do to conserve

Reduce, reuse, and recycle.  Make sure that you are aware of the Trash Collection and Recycling schedule for the Greater Buffalo Area.

KITCHEN

  • Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better.
  • Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it is faster and uses less energy.
  • Match the size of the pan to the heating element.
  • Use toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven.  A toaster oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
  • Use microwave ovens whenever it is convenient.  They can save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.
BATHROOM

  • Place the faucet lever in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it never reaches the faucet.
  • Turn off water while brushing your teeth or washing your face (use one-half gallon instead of nearly 10 gallons!)
  • Take shorter showers or use water saving showerheads (a five-minute shower uses nearly 30 gallons of water)
  • Completely turn off faucets and promptly report and/or repair any leaks.  
  • When purchasing any new equipment or appliance, always look for the Energy Star label.  Energy Star products meet or exceed energy-efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, and uses about half as much electricity as standard equipment.  This program can also allow for user-specified sleep settings according to the daily usage of the product. 
Tips on Efficient Appliance Operation
DISHWASHERS

  • Check the manual for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature. Many allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature.
  • Scrape off, do not rinse, large food pieces and bones.  Soaking or pre-washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
  • Be sure your dishwasher is full but not overloaded.
  • Don't use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes.  It uses three to seven gallons of hot water each time you use it.
  • Let your dishes air dry.  If you do not have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.
WASHING MACHINES AND DRYERS

  • Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.  It will save you 85% or more in energy and dollars than normal washing.
  • Wash and dry full loads.  If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
  • Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
  • Don't over-dry your clothes.  On newer machines, use the moisture sensor (Electric dryers account for 6-10% of residential energy consumption).
  • Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
  • Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
REFRIGERATORS
  • Don't keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold.  Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section.
  • Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators. Frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running.  (Do not allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch).
  • Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.  Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator.  If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the seal may need replacing.
  • Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator.  Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
  • What to buy: always look for the Energy Star label when purchasing any new appliance(s).  Keep in mind that there are always two price tags for every appliance — a purchase price and the operating cost.
    The most efficient way to use a dryer, is to not use it all!  Clothes last longer and smell better when they are hung out to dry in the sun!
COMPUTERS

  • Be sure to set "energy saver" options; sometimes these options are not enabled by the manufacturer.
  • Turn off your computer during the evening and on the weekend.  This should not harm the equipment if done in moderation. 
  • What to buy: Buy Energy Star equipment.  Energy Star computers power down to 30 watts or less when in active for a user specified period.  
  • Consider purchasing a laptop.  Laptops use only 15 to 25 watts on average, whereas a computer and monitor use 300 watts on average
The Energy Star program
  • Reduces pollution
  • Lowers your energy bills
  • Minimizes the amount of heat generated from equipment
  • Lengthens the lifespan of your equipment. 
Remember to look for the Energy Star label as the symbol of energy efficiency.  For more information call 1-888-STAR-YES or click here for the Energy Star Web site.

Efficiency Suggestions
  • Use energy efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). A 15-watt CFL gives off about the same light as a 75-watt incandescent.  A CFL bulb lasts 10-13 times longer than an incandescent and generates less heat.
  • Purchase electronic ballasts for your fluorescent lights.  Ballast style lights are 10 to 15 percent more efficient than a magnetic ballast light.
  • Take advantage of natural light.  Consider the addition of skylights and sky pipes, as well as furniture rearrangement.
  • Consider occupancy sensors that turn on lights when someone enters a room and turns off when everyone leaves.  You can also control lighting with electronic timers and dimmers to minimize energy waste.
  • Photocell lighting sensors turn lights on and off according to the amount of daylight available. 
Conservation Tips

  • Notice areas that have more than adequate lighting.  For example, corridors and areas near windows are commonly over-lit.  Remove unnecessary bulbs and ballasts. 
  • Clean light fixtures and bulbs twice a year because dirty fixtures significantly reduce light output and cost money.
  • Turn off your lights!  Indoor lighting use is highest during the daylight hours of  9 a.m. and 5 p.m. -- an odd fact when you consider that light bulbs were invented so that we could see in the dark!  According to the EPA, 25-30 percent of a building’s energy bill goes to lighting.
  • Most of heating/cooling energy loss is through windows and doors. Keep windows and doors closed and properly insulated (You could save up to 15 percent on utilities each month just by this alone!)
How you can do this
  • First, test your home for air tightness.  On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, attic hatches, and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside.  If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather-stripping. 
  • Then, caulk and weather-strip or seal doors and windows that leak air. 
  • Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with high performance windows.  Storm windows help reduce drafts, water condensation and frost formation.  As a less costly and less permanent alternative, use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame, or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months.  Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
Prevent Energy Loss from Heating and Cooling!
The largest portion of a utility bill for a typical house comes from heating and cooling - up to 50 percent!  Check out these World Wide Web sites on auditing your home’s energy consumption.  Calculate your energy consumption and saving here.

Learn how to do your own energy audit at these Department of Energy web sites:

www.eere.energy.gov  
www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/ea2.html 


Other tips
  • Keep the thermostat at 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit during winter and 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit during summer. 
  • Keep shades and curtains open or closed to allow sunlight to heat during winter, or to prevent heating during summer. 
  • If the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.  A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes! 
Contacts

Canisius College Facilities Management
716-888-2250
www.canisius.edu/facilities/

Information about the Energy Star Program
1-888-STAR-YES
www.energystar.gov

Information about other universities turned "Green"
http://wings.buffalo.edu/ubgreen

Information on performing home energy audits
www.HomeEnergySaver.lbl.gov  or www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/ea2.html

Some information for this site were obtained from SUNY Buffalo’s UB Green Program (http://wings.buffalo.edu/ubgreen/), the Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/index.html), NYSERDA (www.nyserda.org/) and University of Colorado Environmental Center (www.colorado.edu/ecenter)