April 2018: Green Tips

Energy:

Thermostats

The best way to save energy is by reducing your air conditioner and heater use.

Electronics and Appliances

Turn it off: A habit that should eventually become second nature. All appliances and electronics should be kept off when not in use, even for short amounts of time.

Unplug: This reduces the amount of “vampire electricity,” that energy appliances suck even when they are turned off. Computers, televisions, and DVRs use the most electricity when off but still plugged in. Power strips make this more convenient by using one switch to eliminate all power. Try smart power strips that shut down products that go into standby mode.

Change your settings: Adjust your computer settings to energy-saving options

 • Enable standby (“sleep”) mode. A typical computer uses 50-150 Watts of power, but only 1-6 W when on standby.

 • Don’t use a screensaver – these use just as much energy as active use.

 • Check your power settings – choose “Energy Saver” modes.

 • Turn it off – Leaving your computer for 30 minutes or more? Shut it down for significant savings.

 • Use an energy-saving software that automatically adjusts your settings without affecting your use. Try a free program like Granola Software

Lights

Turn off the lights: When you leave your room, be sure all lights are off, even if you will only be gone for a few minutes. Put a note on the door if you forget often.

Upgrade: Replace all incandescent bulbs with LED light bulbs, which use almost 90% less energy. A CFL bulb uses 50–80% less energy. LEDs don’t have the same “warm-up” delay that CFLs do and don’t require special disposal. CFLs contain mercury and CANNOT go in the trash.

Laundry

Use cold water: ENERGY STAR estimates that almost 90% of energy used by washing machines goes to heating water. Change the settings to “Bright colors” to wash your clothes in cold water. To increase effectiveness, buy laundry detergent suited for cold water washing.

Skip the dryer: Try air drying! Clothes dryers require a significant amount of energy to heat up, and they shorten the life of your clothes. Invest in an inexpensive clothing rack for your room or apartment to save energy and money!