Energy Savings

1. How the Campus Community Can Reduce Energy Consumption1).  Lights: Turn off lights when the last person leaves a room.  If you will be out of your office, or room, for more than 10 minutes, turn off the lights as you leave.  Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (cfl’s), or light-emitting diodes (LED’s).  Using CFL’s will consume only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer.
2. Computers: shut them down before you leave work.  Another good practice is to ensure it will go into sleep mode during periods of inactivity.  This helps during the day when you may be pulled away from your computer.
3. Unplug equipment that drains energy when not in use (i.e. cell phone chargers, coffeemakers, desktop printers, fans, radios, etc.).
4. Air Conditioned Spaces: Raise the thermostat setpoints in summer months and lower them in winter months.  Windows and exterior doors should be kept closed.  Open doors and widows allow the conditioned air to escape, and make the HVAC system work harder to replace it.  Evening / summer classes should be concentrated in as few buildings as possible.  Maintain an aggressive preventative maintenance program to ensure clean air filters and efficient HVAC systems.  Ensure the proper operation of the Energy Management System, that time of day scheduling is functioning and night set back temperatures are maintained.
5. Hot Water: Lower the temperature settings.  Use hot water wisely.  Showers use less water than a bath tub.  The hot water is heated by steam from the central plant.  Wasting hot water puts additional load on our boilers, which causes them to use more natural gas.
6. Dress appropriately:  When it may be cooler or warmer in the buildings due to seasonal changes - dress appropriately.
7. All members of the campus community should be conscious of their energy usage.  Every little bit helps.  If everyone does a little, it can, and will add up to a lot.  Please be aware, and do your part, as we strive to reduce the University of Montevallo’s energy consumption and expense.