SPEAR Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility

Energy Conservation

Standby Power Consumption Also known as – Phantom load – Vampire power – Leaking electricity In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Wikimedia Commons

Examples of “Phantom Load” Transformers – Power bricks – Cell phone charger Computer equipment Appliances with LED clocks Remote-controlled devices Devices with standby indicators Stereos, radios, satellite receivers, and power strips

Refrigerator Make sure door is closed tightly – Take the dollar bill test: close your refrigerator door on a dollar bill and then try to pull it out. If the dollar comes out easily you may need new seals or a new refrigerator. Plan what you need inside the refrigerator before you open the door Refrigerator temperature: 36–40ºF Let food cool before storing in refrigerator

Lighting Use common sense – Natural lighting – Localized light (example: desk lamp) – Turn off lights when not in use – Compact fluorescent light bulbs Avoid over-illumination – Waste energy – Health effects Stress and fatigue Hypertension Migraines Circadian rhythm disruption

Computers Turn off computer and monitor when not in use Turn off computer at night Activate power management on laptops and desktops Screen savers do NOT reduce energy use

Laundry Use cooler water – ~90% of energy used to wash clothes is used to heat water – Switching from hot to warm water can cut energy use in half – Cold-water detergents † Wash and dry full loads; adjust settings for small loads Dry towels and heavier cottons separately from lighter-weight clothes † Effectiveness not scientifically proven.

Miscellaneous Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving wastes gasoline... and $$$. When using small amounts of water, use cold water. Hot water may never reach the faucet.

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Sources _students ml college.html rformance_tips