WestConn$erve

Energy Saving Tips

Whether you’re a member of the faculty and staff or a student, there are a few simple steps you can take to “WestConnserve” and take part in our campus wide effort to save energy:

  • Turn off lights, PCs, monitors, laptops, printers, chargers, copiers, and electronic equipment when they are not in use. Turn off electronics and appliances when you leave at the end of the day, for the weekend or for a holiday.
  • Power off your computer during long periods of inactivity. Both the CPU and the monitor — even energy-efficient computers and monitors — should be turned off if a PC is not going to be used for more than two hours. Enable the “sleep” function to power down your computer during shorter periods of inactivity.
  • Choose Energy Star products. A program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Star label helps consumers identify energy-efficient appliances and products.
  • Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer when possible. A laptop uses 50 percent less energy than the average desktop PC.
  • Turn off lights in rooms that are not occupied or when daylight is adequate. You can reduce lighting expenses by 10 to 40 percent by lighting space only when it’s in use. Use task lighting to focus light only where you need it.
  • Use compact fluorescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lights use nearly 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights.
  • Adjust heating and cooling system controls to energy-efficient, comfortable levels. Maintain a temperature of 68 degrees F or lower in the winter and 76 degrees or higher in the summer to keep you comfortable and save energy. Reduce the thermostat setting in winter to 55 degrees when you will be gone for more than a couple hours.
  • Use window coverings effectively. Keep curtains, shades or blinds closed to prevent heat gain in the summer. Close these window coverings in the winter to retain heat, opening them on sunny winter days to take advantage of the sun.
  • Clear furniture, carpeting, drapes and other items from the areas in front of vents and registers. As much as 25 percent more energy is required to distribute air if your vents are blocked. 
  • Shorten showers. Cutting your shower time by a few minutes can save hundreds of gallons of hot water per month.
  • Wash and dry smart. Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible. Wash and dry full loads. Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.

For more information about the energy conservation efforts at WestConn, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.