October is Campus Sustainability Month and Energy Awareness Month.
Vanderbilt community members who are going to be away from their dorm, office or home for an extended period of time during fall break should remember to power down before they leave. Doing so is a great way to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
Here are some simple steps to help conserve energy while you are away:
- Turn off lightsin your workspace when you leave, even if only for a short period of time.
- 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 day. Many of these spaces sit empty the majority of the day.
- Turn off office equipment. If allowed in your area, computers, printers, copiers and scanners can be turned off when you leave for the day (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 76–78 degrees (for cooling settings) since it is still quite warm this year. Remember to adjust thermostats in spaces unoccupied during the break.
- Close window shades or blinds during the hottest part of the day, or when you leave for the weekend, 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 during 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 3-9675 to let them know.
For more information about energy conservation, visit the SustainVU website, contact sustainvu@vanderbilt.edu or call 2-9022.
Contact: Sustainability and Environmental Management Office, (615) 322-9022