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Tips for Reducing Energy
Consumption
Cooling and Heating Systems
(HVAC)
Equipment and Machines
Lighting
Cooling
and Heating
(HVAC
Systems)
On average, for every degree
you lower your thermostat you raise
cooling costs by 3%. Conversely, if you raise the
thermostat one degree
you can reduce cooling costs by 3%.
- On non-student
days reduce, every time possible, the number of
areas being cooled or heated.
- Schedule as many
activities as possible outdoors.
- Raise thermostat
settings one degree per week, up to a tolerable
setting, to allow acclimation by people using the
space.
- Be sure all
systems are cleaned and filters are replaced on a
regular basis.
- Close blinds or
drapes in areas that receive direct sunlight.
- Close all doors
and windows when the air conditioning or heat is
on.
- Propose dress
codes that allow for comfort in areas where
thermostats are increased.
- Turn off cooling
systems the last half-hour of occupancy.
- Do not set
thermostats at a lower setting when first turning
on an air conditioner or upon entering a warm
room. It will not cool the room faster and could
result in excessive cooling and extra expense.
- Plant trees and
shrubs to provide shade to the building and air
conditioning units.
- Be aware of indoor
air quality issues.
- Check for air
leaks around windows and doors.
- Use exhaust fans
as little as possible.
- Make sure there is
a good supply of air - moving air cools the skin,
it evens temperature differences in the room, and
it counters drowsiness. Running a fan is cheaper
than cooling the air.
- Check the accuracy
of your thermostat reading with a good
thermometer.
- Learn more about
HVAC systems.
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Equipment and
Machines
"…there's basically
only one way to save energy used by your
presentoffice machines: turn them off when not
needed."(How to Reduce You Energy Costs,
1996, pg. 53)
- Turn it off when not in use.
- Use equipment as little as
possible. Turn on machines only when needed.
- Have copiers cleaned, tuned,
adjusted, and lubricated on a regular basis.
- Consider the energy use when
selecting new equipment.
- Look for the Energy Star label
on info-age machines.
- Don't overlook machines located
in out-of-the-way areas.
- Thoroughly check that all
equipment is off before weekends and vacations.
Don't forget the fax machine.
Hot Water
- Insulate all pipes and the hot
water heater.
- Check the temperature of hot
water leaving faucets. Compare your findings to
the temperature setting on the hot water heater.
- When possible, reduce the
thermostats on hot water heaters.
- Check for water leaks and stop
them every time possible.
- Turn off electric hot water
heaters when the building will be unoccupied even
over the weekend.
Refrigeration
- Replace all worn seals.
- Clean equipment regularly and
be sure it is well ventilated.
- Do not put hot items into the
unit.
- Check the temperature
frequently to be sure the unit is functioning
properly.
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Lighting
Contrary to common belief, letting
a light burn rather than turning it off never saves
electrical energy. When electric lighting is not
required, switch it off.
Electric lighting
is one of the major uses of electrical energy and
accounts for a significant portion of total energy
usage in school buildings. When lights are left on
in areas which are unoccupied or unused for lengthy
periods of the day of week, the inadvertent waste of
energy often approaches or exceeds the amount of
energy used by other building systems much of the
week.
Electric lighting
is also a factor adding to the heat in an area
thereby requiring additional energy for cooling.
To conserve
energy for lighting in classrooms, offices, etc.:
- Turn off lights when they are
not needed.
- Utilize daylight when possible.
- Improve lighting systems
efficiency by keeping fixtures clean.
- Reduce the levels of lighting
whenever possible in areas where lighting is used.
- Switch off all lights which are
not required, even for portions of the day,
- Turn off all lights
other than those needed for security when the
building is unoccupied.
- For cleaning, which must be
done at night, turn on lights only in that portion
of the building which is being cleaned
immediately.
- Switch off lights in each area
when moving to the next.
- Turn off display case internal
lighting.
- Turn of flood lighting that is
strictly decorative.
- Maintain hazard and egress
lighting at all times, as required by building and
fire codes.
- Remove unneeded lights.
- Consider retro-fitting to lower
wattage requirements and utilize more efficient
lighting.
To conserve energy
used in outdoor lighting:
- Turn off all lights used
solely for decorative purposes.
- Institute "black-out" of lights
in specific parking lot areas. Consider this:
Many school
districts have implemented total black-outs at
schools. In 1994, Hillsborough County School
District began a "Darkness School" and found not
only did their energy bills go down, so did the
reports of vandalism. In fact, a 20% in
burglaries and a 70% reduction in property loss
as a result of burglary was reported in the
first year. Pasco County School District has a
similar policy and reports similar findings.
- Institute a black-out of all lights at night
with the exception of those required by building
and fire codes.
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