Let the fireworks be the only thing lighting up the sky this holiday weekend! Don’t forget to power down before you leave the office for the long weekend or your home for any extended period this summer, especially with hot temperatures. The planet, and your energy bill, will thank you for it.
Here are some things you can do to help conserve energy while you are away:
- Set thermostats to 76-78 degrees F, including thermostats in classrooms that are unoccupied during the summer.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
For more energy-saving tips, visit the SustainVU website or contact the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) at sustainvu@vanderbilt.edu or 615-322-9022.