Turn It Off

Before breaks and holidays, remind others to turn it OFF

Before you head home for the long weekend, give your heating and electronic equipment a holiday.

Please remember to turn OFF:

• Computers and any other components (speakers, printers, monitors)
• Shared copiers, fax machines, and printers
• Any other energy consuming equipment

Shared spaces can be energy hogs too, check on shared workspace, meetings spaces, and kitchens.

Before you close that door next week for a long weekend, LOOK AROUND, is there anything still powered ON that doesn’t need to be?

Help by turning OFF all unnecessary electrical equipment and Be Spartan Green!

Save Energy Every Night and Weekend

When you leave for the day, turn OFF:

• Lights
• Computers
• Monitors
• Copiers/Printers
• Window Air Conditioners
• Turn the temperature UP/DOWN (depending on the season)
• ...and remind others!
  
  

Lighting

Why Waste?

Turn lights off when you are the last one to leave a room, or when you leave the room for more than five minutes. It takes less energy to turn the lights on and off than keep them on. Use sun light when available and keep lights off, this will help your space stay cooler in the summer months.

Use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) whenever possible for task lighting, these bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy.

If you use a 60 W incandescent bulb, then purchase a 13 W CFL bulb.
(Stores Stock Item:11054390)

If you use a 75 W incandescent bulb, then purchase a 18 W CFL bulb.
(Stores Stock Item:11054382)

 

Light Bulb Recycling & Disposal

To dispose and/or recycle any fluorescent tubes or CFLs, please contact your custodial building head.

Find contact information at http://www.custodial.msu.edu/.

Energy Efficient Electronics

Whenever possible, buy Energy Star electronic equipment when your unit is purchasing (such as refrigerators, copiers, battery chargers, water coolers, and many others). You’ll save energy without even thinking about it! If you’re buying a new or refurbished computer, consider the EPEAT rating. This rating comes in bronze, silver, or gold signifying how environmentally-friendly the computer will be throughout its lifespan. Computer Store offers EPEAT ratings on the products it sells.

 

Unplug Your Equipment (or buy some help)

Plug control equipment (e.g. power strips) provide technological solutions to help control energy use. Some of these devices can automatically sense when spaces are unoccupied and turn off equipment in the space, thus reducing energy waste.

 

Plug Control Equipment

The WattStopper Energy Saving System. $87.189/each or $91.99/personal use.

(Stores Stock Item: 11020117)

 

Smart Strip. $34.826/each or $36.74/personal use.

(Stores Stock Item: 11020115)

 

Stop Stand-by Energy Waste

Vampires aren’t just creepy people in Transylvania—they are nearly every electronic device plugged directly into the wall. These devices “suck” up energy, called stand-by energy, to be prepared for the moment they get turned on. Plug your devices into a surge protector power strip, and turn it off when you leave for the day. Can’t remember? Invest in a Smart Strip to help you.

 

Let Your Computer Rest

Power down your computer and monitor when it’s not in use. Turning off the computer helps the computer have a longer lifespan and saves much more energy than keeping it on! Set your power management system on your computer to turn off when you forget, or contact your IT professional.

Remember, screen savers are not an energy saver, but a relic from our large monitor (CRT) past.

 

Stop Waste and Save Energy with Rechargeable Batteries

Single-use alkaline batteries are difficult to recycle, but rechargeable batteries work just as well and are easily recyclable. In the long run, these batteries save energy and resources. Get a set for things like wireless mouse, remotes, and other devices. Batteries and rechargers are available at University Stores, and send dead rechargeable batteries to MSU Recycling. Don’t forget to unplug the charger once it’s done!

 

Light Bulb Recycling & Disposal

To dispose and/or recycle any fluorescent tubes or CFLs, please contact your custodial building head.

 

Find contact information at www.custodial.msu.edu.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Drafty windows? Is Your Office too Hot or too Cold?

Save energy by promptly report room comfort conditions that are not normal. Rooms that are too hot or too cool may be due to faulty thermostats or other controls that are malfunctioning or have drifted from set-points. This results in wasted energy as well as uncomfortable conditions for you.

 

Report issues to Maintenance Services at 353-1760.

 

Need Heating or Cooling for an Event?

With our new Environmental Stewardship initiatives, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) hours have been reduced in many buildings on campus. If there are planned activities in a non-residential hall building after-hours or on weekends, call scheduling at 353-4669.

 

Allow Your Office to be Heated

How you arrange your room doesn’t just affect your mood (maybe), it affects the ability for the HVAC system to heat and cool the room (definitely). Do not block air intakes on walls, place furniture next to air registers so that the air intake near the floor is blocked, or place clutter near the flat-top air registers. Don’t block thermostats with furniture either. Remember, your room can’t be heated or cooled properly unless you allow it to!

 

Space heaters are a sign of a larger problem; every room should be effectively heated and cooled unless there is a mechanical failure. Call Maintenance Services first before you bring in a dangerous space heater, 353-4669.

 

Save Energy with Your Thermostat

Adjust your thermostat if you have the ability to, one degree means big savings! Dial it up in the summer, down in the winter. Compensate for temperature in your space by dressing for personal comfort. A one-degree change in the thermostat setting saves $225,000 annually across campus.

 

$225,000 translates other ways, too:

• Approximately 2,915 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions reductions
• A reduction of about 6,500 tons of coal burned at the power plant
• 65 less rail car deliveries per year, meaning less wait time at the tracks