How can you help?
We’re delighted you asked! Every watt counts! Here are a few easy ways to make a BIG contribution to our planet:
- Power down your work station each night. Sure, you diligently shut down your computer, but how about that monitor which goes into standby mode? Or how about those computer speakers that are always on-the-ready for you? Powering down the entire workstation each night can save a lot of wasted CO2 pounds each year:
Equipment / Item |
Watts |
Watts wasted per year (Wh) |
$$ WASTED per year at $0.19/kWh |
Approximate lbs. CO2 per year |
Electric hole punch |
4.6 |
30,617.6 |
$5.82 |
41 |
Coffee maker w/ Timer |
3.7 |
24,627.2 |
$4.68 |
33 |
Electric stapler |
3.1 |
20,633.6 |
$3.92 |
28 |
Microwave |
2.7 |
17,971.2 |
$3.41 |
24 |
Portable radio |
2.4 |
15,974.4 |
$3.04 |
21 |
Computer Speakers |
2.3 |
15,308.8 |
$2.91 |
21 |
Adding machine |
2.3 |
15,308.8 |
$2.91 |
21 |
Office cell phone charger |
0.7 |
4,659.2 |
$0.89 |
6 |
- Recycle your scrap paper. You can either reuse it, or have Kinkos turn scratch paper into bound scratch pads at a nominal cost. Either way, the forests of our planet would truly appreciate it if each piece of paper could feel the love on both sides.
- Plan events with recycling in mind. Paper products, plastic products, glass products, all have their own special home on-campus. Facilities Managers would be happy to help make additional containers available should you need them.
- Who needs bottled water at events when water coolers work just as well?
- Avail yourself of reusable bags. Reusable bags typically cost less than one dollar and help prevent wasteful plastic from littering our campus and finding their way to landfills.
- Agree to a policy of turning off lights in common areas - kitchen, rest room, meeting rooms, copy room. Turn off lights when you leave a room.
- Turn off lights in our offices and purchase a desk lamp instead with a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL)
- Make your desk paperless, or paper light. Don't print e-mails, meeting reminders, daily calendars, etc.
- Be more eco-efficient. Use a mug or glass instead of styrofoam or paper cups.
- Choose energy efficient office machines to save on costs and carbon emissions. They also produce less heat, reducing emissions from air conditioning.
- Send memos and documents electronically.
- Purchase chemical products that are environmentally friendly.
- Keep shades closed when the air conditioner is on. Sunny windows account for 40 percent of unwanted heat and can make your air conditioner work two to three times harder.
- During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your office and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
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