Energy Tips


Here are some easy things you can do to help save energy at UVM:

set your thermostat
1.  Set your thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer. 
         In office buildings, turn your thermostat to 68°F during the heating season and to 78°F during the cooling season. This helps reduce the amount of energy used to keep
         your office at a comfortable temperature. Layer on clothing or keep a sweater handy for that extra bit of warmth and comfort.


storm window
2. Make sure your storm windows are closed.
    Conserve energy by making sure your storm windows are closed.  When storm windows are left opened on a warm day, condensation can freeze the windows in place. If your storm windows are     stuck open, please submit a work order to the Physical Plant and make sure the area around the window is clear of personal belongings.



Turn off lights!3. Turn off lights when not in use.
All too often lights are left on in classrooms and lounges overnight even though there is no one around. This is a waste of energy that can easily be prevented if people remember to 
turn off the lights when they leave a room.  Motion detection lights, lights that turn off automatically if there is no movement in the room for a set number of minutes, are another solution to the problem. However they are expensive and most rooms on campus do not have them yet so please, remember to turn off the lights.



Computer Sleep Mode 4. Use Computer Sleep Mode 
If all 8,000 computer monitors on the UVM campus used Sleep Mode the University could save 1.6 million kWh every year. That is equal to saving 64,000 gallons of gasoline and $160,000 in energy costs.



Energy Efficient refrigerator
5. Buy Energy Star ® mini-refrigerators and other appliances
Mini-refrigerators are a major source of energy consumption in the residence halls at UVM. Starting in fall 2003 students can get energy efficient mini-refrigerators through the UVM Bookstore , you can even order online. To learn about other Energy Star
® appliances click here .


 
Compact Fluorescent light bulb 

6. Use
compact fluorescent lighbulbs
Energy Star® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent with a 32-watt CFL saves at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. If every household in the US replaced one standard light bulb with a CFL the pollution reduction would equal removing one million cars from the road, (source: energystar.gov).



Recycle
7. Recycle  
Enough energy is saved by recycling one aluminum can to run a TV set for three hours or to light one 100 watt bulb for 20 hours, (source: The Recycler's Handbook by The Earth Works Group). For more about recycling at UVM go to www.uvm.edu/recycle .
Updated December 2008