Energy Saving Tips
Top Ten Tips for Saving Energy in Your Dorm Room
- A typical residence hall room uses 20-40 watts of energy when appliances are turned off but left plugged in. Unplug all appliances including computers, refrigerators and phone chargers when you’re not using them. Plugging these items into a surge protector strip makes it easy to turn off everything when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs use 60-75% less energy than regular incandescent light bulbs. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED type.
- Only wash full loads of clothes and air dry your clothes after washing them. Electric dryers use about 3500 watt hours during full cycle of drying. This is more energy than your room uses in a day!
- Take shorter showers. A ten-minute hot shower uses the about 3000 watt hours to heat the water.
- Use as much as possible natural lighting during the day, and make sure to turn lights off when leaving an empty room including classrooms or bathrooms. Leaving the lights off for even a short period of time saves energy.
- Set your computer to sleep after a few minutes of inactivity. Using a screen saver in lieu of sleep mode does not save energy!
- Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air-conditioned areas to save energy.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your face.
- When shaving, fill a small cup with water for rinsing your razor rather than leaving the faucet running.
- Report any leaks or dripping sinks, showers or toilets by submitting a Service Request.