UW Committee Offers Tips to Reduce Drain on Energy, Money

The University of Wyoming Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) is offering tips to save energy and money while in the classroom, in the office or at home.

The CSC recently launched Eco-Pokes, an initiative to provide easy tips for how students, staff and faculty can reduce their impact on the environment -- and wallets. The committee also provides updates about opportunities to get involved on campus and in the community.

Listed is the third set of tips in a series of regularly scheduled tips:

-- Phantom power loads may occur even when plugged-in products are turned off. This standby power can account for up to 10 percent of residential electricity use. Combat these energy drainers by using a power strip and switching it off when products are not in use. If you don’t have a power strip on hand, unplug your products when not in use to ensure they are truly off.

-- Minimize use of space heaters, which draw a great deal of electricity. Space heaters also are one of the worst culprits for phantom loads. Be sure to unplug them when not in use.

-- Ditch screensavers for computer power management settings, and save up ato $50 per computer annually.

-- Consider updating to Energy Star products, which are often more energy efficient and have lower standby power consumption than other comparable products.

-- Remove underused refrigerators; replace aging and inefficient refrigerators; and reduce and consolidate multiple individual mini-refrigerators to save between $35-$80 per year in electricity costs.

For more information, visit http://energy.gov/energysaver/ and http://www.nrel.gov/.

On and Around Campus

The UW Conservation & Efficiency Revolving Fund (CERF) is now accepting proposals for cost-effective campus sustainability projects from students, staff and faculty. Submissions are due April 1. For more information, visit https://www.uwyo.edu/sustainability/.

Earth Week 2015 is April 20-24. Connect with the CSC Facebook page to stay up to date on events and opportunities to get involved and celebrate Earth Day.

The Campus Sustainability Committee advances sustainability at UW and the broader community by promoting sustainability awareness, using campus as a living laboratory and maintaining accountability for UW’s American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Contact the committee at uwsustai@uwyo.edu.