Wondering what you can do to help Canisius conserve energy in your office? Here are some quick tips on how you can SAVE energy!
Lights
- Replace desk lights with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last 10-13 times longer than standard light bulbs.
- In areas that have more than adequate lighting (i.e. corridors or near windows), turn off every other light and/or remove unnecessary bulbs.
- Try task lighting to reduce overhead lighting.
- Turn off lights when leaving a room for more than one minute.
- Keep doors and windows closed and seal drafty areas to prevent energy loss (heat or air conditioning).
- Set your thermostat no higher than 65–68 degrees in the winter and no lower than 55-60 in the summer.
Screen savers DO NOT save energy. Instead give your computer a "nap" by placing it in “sleep mode” (bland screen). This enables power saving features. Your monitor and hard drive will go into a low power mode when not actively in use.
For help with enabling these features click on Power Save Features.
- Turn off your monitor when you leave the office for 15 minutes or longer.
- If possible, turn off your computer during the evening and on the weekends.
- Use the “print preview” option to find errors before printing your document. NOTE: Saving paper saves energy!
- Consider purchasing flat screen monitors.
- Enable power-saving features on all office equipment.
- Re-use one-sided office paper.
- Use a fax “post-it” instead of a fax cover sheet.
- Utilize the duplex option to save paper and cut supply costs.
- Implement a recycling program for all office supplies in your office. For more information on the campus recylcing program, click here.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and buy recycled office products!
- Use paper with post-consumer recycled content.
- Send E-mails as opposed to using paper mail.
- Read E-mails on-screen as opposed to printing them out.
- Avoid disposable plates, cups and flatware when eating "on the go."
- Use power strips (they save energy) but turn equipment on and off individually.
- Buy office equipment with the Energy Star label. Energy Star products meet or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) energy efficiency criteria.
- Carry a reusable water bottle.
- Carpool with friends or co-workers, take the bus or metro, or ride your bike.