Take a moment to think about how you can reduce your energy consumption. These are positive actions that we can all take to help protect and preserve the planet.
Did You Know . . .
- The energy use in homes causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving cars.
- If every household in the US replaced just one light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution equal to removing one million cars from the road.
- CFL's use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last 10 times longer.
- Only 10% of all of the energy used by an incandescent light bulb generates light - the rest is just wasted heat.
From the Energy Star Web site.
Lights
- Use the compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's) provided to all new Hayden Hall and D'Agostino Hall residents for your lamps (desk, floor, etc.). Residents of Hayden and D'Agostino Hall should submit a Service Request online for the replacement of light bulbs (CFL's) in the apartment fixtures.
- Turn Off The Lights! - You can quickly reduce your energy use and the greenhouse gas emissions as a result by flicking the switch on lights, computers, television, and other electronic equipment not in use.
- Keep your blinds open in the winter to allow sunlight to warm your room and closed in the summer, to keep heat out.
Computers
- Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode when it is not in use. Screen savers do not save any energy at all!
- Turn off and unplug your computer when not in use.
Wasted Energy ("Phantom Loads")
- Energy is consumed while products are turned off. NYU Spends about $750,000 a year on this needless consumption!
- Laptop and cell phone chargers, TVs, stereos, and other electronics continue to draw electricity when plugged in. Unplug laptop and cell phone chargers, printers and scanners when they are not in use and unplug TV's, stereos, alarm clocks, microwaves, and other appliances when you go away for a few days.
- Use a standard, plug in phone and not a cordless. Cordless phones continually use power.
Laundry
- Be sure to only wash full loads, thus reducing the number of loads necessary.
- Use cold water if possible as 85-90% of the energy consumed in washing your clothes is used to heat the water.
- Reduce the amount of detergent you use and cut down on the need for additional rinse cycles. Two tablespoons is all you need.
- Use a drying rack or hangers to air-dry laundry that does not dry 100% in the dryer.
- Use plant-based, biodegradable, phosphate-free detergent.
- Remove the lint before each cycle and increase the efficiency of the machine.
- And, don't forget to place all empty detergent bottles and boxes in the recycling bin.