Please remember to power down before you leave the office or your home for an extended period over the July Fourth holiday. Your reductions in energy use can have a large impact when aggregated across the entire university. Here are some things you can do to help conserve energy while you are away:
- Turn off lights in your workspace when you leave, even if only for a short period of time. Turning off your lights will save energy if you are gone for more than 30 seconds.
- Turn off lights to common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, break rooms, classrooms and conference rooms when you leave and especially before leaving for the holiday. Many of these spaces frequently sit empty.
- Turn off office or lab equipment. If allowed in your area, turn off computers, printers, copiers, scanners and some lab equipment when you leave for the holiday, or at the end of your work shift if they will not be used again for several hours. Otherwise, activate sleep modes and energy-saving settings. Instructions for modifying power settings can be found on the SustainVU Energy Saving Tips page.
- Set thermostat settings to at least 76-78 degrees F. Remember also to adjust thermostats in classrooms unoccupied during the summer. Dress for hot weather so that you can remain comfortable in more moderate temperatures.
- Close window shades or blinds during the hottest part of the day or when you leave for the holiday to keep heat out and cool air in.
- In laboratory spaces, close fume hood sashes when not in use or when the lab is closed over the holiday. A single fume hood running 24 hours can use the same amount of energy as a single-family home in a year.
If your office or area seems unusually cold or hot, or if you have trouble regulating the temperature, please call VU Plant Operations at (615) 343-9675 or VUMC Plant Services at (615) 322-2041 to let them know.
For more information on energy conservation, please visit the SustainVU website, contact sustainvu@vanderbilt.edu or call (615) 322-9022.
Contact: SEMO, (615) 322-9022
sustainvu@vanderbilt.edu