As temperatures climb into the 90s and higher during the summer months, VU Plant Operations and the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office are reminding faculty, staff and students to reduce energy consumption across campus.
Small, collective efforts can have a large impact and help the university’s sustainability efforts.
To help conserve energy at work:
- Close window blinds in your office or lab during the hottest part of the day to keep temperatures lower inside.
- Moderate thermostat settings to 76-78 degrees.
- Adjust thermostats more radically in unoccupied classrooms and during after-business hours, the weekend or vacation.
- Dress for hot weather to remain comfortable in more moderate temperatures.
- Turn off lights in workspaces when you leave, even if only for a short period of time.
- Turn off lights to common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, break rooms and conference rooms.
- Clean air intake registers as well as vents on appliances such as refrigerators or freezers regularly to remove any dust buildup and to allow equipment to run more efficiently.
- Turn off office equipment. If possible, turn off computers, printers, copiers and scanners when you leave for the day. Otherwise, activate sleep modes and energy-saving settings.
- In laboratory spaces, close fume hood sashes when not in use.
- If your office, room or area seems unusually cold or hot, or you have trouble regulating the temperature, please call VU Plant Operations at 343-9675 for assistance.
For more information, contact: Chelsea Hamilton, (615) 322-9022
FutureVUSustainability@vanderbilt.edu