Energy Saving Practices

This page includes suggestions for reducing your personal energy use. Remember, even if you are not using something, it still draws electricity from the outlet, so always unplug when possible. This is called phantom load. In the U.S. today, $4 billion a year of electricity is wasted just due to leaving electronics plugged in. $1 billion is just from video game consoles. Computers and televisions are the next greatest energy suckers. In your dorm room, the greatest amount of electricity use is from your mini-fridge, so consider sharing and remember to turn it off if there’s nothing inside.

Get a power strip for your dorm room or office that you can plug all of your electronics into so you only have to press one button to turn everything off at night.

Click here to buy a Smart Strip.

Don't charge electronics overnight. Charge your personal electronics and computer when you are around to unplug them when they're finished. This will increase your battery life and not waste energy.

Turn off personal computers when not in use. It does NOT hurt your computer to turn it on and off many times.

Set the sleep mode on your computer.

for instructions on setting your sleep mode on a Mac, click here. This will reduce your energy use by 90%!
for instructions on setting your sleep mode on a PC, click here.

Lower screen brightness on your laptop.

Recycle electronics

recycle your cell phones, ink catridges, and PDAs in bins outside of the Highlander in the basement of the Campus Center

Apple provides free recyling of old ipods and cell phones regardless of brand, and with prepaid shipping
click here to learn how to recycle your ipod or cell phone through Apple
During move-out at the end of the year, ITS offers free e-waste removal for all electronics. Don’t throw your old electronics in the trash can – it’s hazardous waste!

Check out an energy monitor from the Sustainability Office in Kagin to find out how much energy YOU are using.

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