August 2013 Volume 2 Issue 9 The Alliance to Save Energy PowerSave Campus is a classroom-to-workspace program that involves students, faculty, administrators and campus support staff in cutting energy use on college campuses, incorporating energy efficiency into curricula, encouraging students to pursue careers in sustainability after graduation, and generally increasing awareness of energy efficiency.
Living off campus this year? Then this month’s newsletter is for you! Energy efficiency is an easy way to save money on your power bill. From no cost to minimal cost to investment, we’ve got it all!
Save Energy (and Money) without Spending by Aaron Erbes
Making your home more energy efficient couldn’t be cheaper. By adjusting a few settings and being a little more mindful around your house, you can reduce your monthly energy bill. I can think of many more things I would rather spend money on than bills. Thermostats: • Set your thermostat to 78 degrees during warmer months and to 68 during the colder ones. Air conditioners and heaters are the largest residential energy consumers. For every degree below 78 or above 68, your utility bill increases by about 1%. • During the fall and spring the temperature outside may be comfortable enough for you to turn off your heating or cooling system. Let the outside air cool your home at night, then, in the morning, close windows and blinds to trap in the cool air. During the winter, keep blinds open during the day to let in sunlight, then shut them at night to retain heat. Refrigerator and Freezer: • Set your refrigerator to 337 degrees and your freezer to 0 degrees. Dishwashers: • Only run your dishwasher when it is completely full. • Instead of using the “heated dry” setting, open the door to the dishwasher and let the dishes air dry. • Avoid using additional water from pre-rinsing dishes in the sink; most modern dishwashers are powerful enough to clean dishes without any pre-rinsing. Water Heater: • Set your water heater thermostat at 120 instead of 140. That 20 degree difference can save you $7 a month.
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Laundry: • Only wash full loads of laundry. •
Wash clothes on cold cycle. Washing clothes with warm water uses 90% more energy than cold water.
Cumulative Metrics: Sep. 2011 - June 2013 The Ole Miss PSC Team has been working diligently to save energy on campus. Take a look at our results:
• kWh saved: 188,370 • $ saved: $15,070 • Carbon emissions avoided: 254,299 lbs. of CO2 • CFLs exchanged: 347
POWERSAVE CAMPUS August 2013
Energy Savings with Minimal Costs by Sara Douglass
Are you planning on living in rental property for a year? Then this article is for you. There are many minimal cost adjustments that you can make in your apartment, condo, or house to maximize your energy efficiency, cut back on your energy bill, and help the environment. • Replace air filters in your house once a month. ‣ A dirty filter will cause your heating and cooling equipment to work harder. Look for the air return vent in your house or apartment. Filters are cheap! You can remind yourself each month when your electric bill comes. • Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) ‣ CFLs are 75% more efficient and last 9 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs. • Create a charging station connected to a power strip ‣ Plug in cords for electronics that you charge. Turn off the strip when you are not charging anything. Repair leaking water faucets • A leaky faucet can waste hundreds of gallons of water every year. ‣
Investments in Energy Efficiency by Nathan Byrd
If you’re planning on staying at your place of residence for more than a year or if you are really excited about energy efficiency, then this article is for you. This article is dedicated to ways you can make energy efficiency investments in your apartment, house, or condo. Energy Efficient Lighting: • ‘hue’ bulbs from Philips and Apple These two tech giants teamed up to develop the hue bulb – an 8.5 watt LED lighting system that you can control with your smart phone or tablet. The starter pack, which includes 3 hue bulbs and a wireless bridge, is available for $200 through Apple. Connecting with your wireless router, the bridge wirelessly connects up to 50 hue bulbs to be controlled using your smart device. From sunset oranges, ocean blues, and Grove greens, you can change the lighting and the mood of your house or apartment with a simple touch. • Philips L-Prize LED bulbs The Philips L-Prize LED bulbs are award-winning bulbs for the most energy efficient design awarded by the US Department of Energy. These 10 watt LED bulbs give off the same light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb, and they will last for over 27 years! Just think, your kids will be going off to college one day and could still be using the same LED light bulb that you used in college. It's a worthwhile investment and will save you a lot on your utility bill. ENERGY STAR: • ENERGY STAR rated appliances are a great way to save energy and cut costs on your utility bill. If your place is comes furnished with appliances, you can still buy ENERGY STAR certified TVs, sound systems, and computers. Look for this blue label while shopping! Green Power Switch from TVA: • If you really want to take the leap into an energy efficient lifestyle, contact your electric utility provider and ask about the Green Power Switch. For a slightly higher cost than regular energy, you can power your home by using energy generated by renewable sources, and therefore reducing energy consumption from non-renewable sources.
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