Today's Energy Insight

TRUE or FALSE? 
Leaving a ceiling fan on while you are not in a room will help keep it cool.

 
FALSE! Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.  Unlike air conditioning units, fans are simply recirculating air and creating flow – that slight breeze we feel cools us down, but does not actually alter the air temperature.  Save energy by turning off the ceiling fan when you leave a room!

Today's Energy Insight

When should you power down your computer for energy savings? Below are some basic guidelines from Energy.gov.

Though there is a small surge in energy when a computer starts up, this small amount of energy is still less than the energy used when a computer is running for long periods of time.

For energy savings and convenience, consider the following:

• Turn off the monitor if you aren't going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
• Turn off both the CPU and monitor if you're not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
• Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don't use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it's not in use.

Most PCs reach the end of their "useful" life due to advances in technology long before the effects of being switched on and off multiple times have a negative impact on their service life. The less time a PC is on, the longer it will "last." PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces building cooling loads.

Today's Energy Insight

Top 10 Summer Energy-Saving Tips

1. Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortable – we recommend 78ºF or higher when you’re at home, and 85ºF when you’re gone. Keep inside air vents clear from furniture and other objects.

2. Have your central air conditioner tuned up and clean or replace filters monthly for more efficient operation.

3. Minimize indoor heat: run the dryer and dishwasher at night on hot days and let your dishes air dry. Avoid heat-generating incandescent lighting and use a microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill instead of the oven. It's best to avoid the use of major appliances between 2 and 8 p.m.

4. Set your water heater to 120ºF.

5. Keep the blinds and windows closed during the day and open at night. This is a no-cost way to keep your home a little cooler.

6. Window, ceiling and whole-house fans are also low-cost ways to keep your home a little cooler.

7. Wash clothes in cold water and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.

8. Eliminate, or deactivate, extra freezers or refrigerators if you can, especially if they spend the summer outdoors or in a garage. Better yet, have your old refrigerator or freezer picked up for proper recycling and earn a cash incentive.

9. Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use. Plug home electronics, such as TVs, DVD

players and computers into power strips and turn off the power strips when the equipment is not in use.

10. If you have a pool: consider slowly reducing pool filtration time by 30 minute increments daily. Keep on reducing the time as long as the water appears clean. You may find you only need to run your pool filter six hours a day. Install a timer to control the length of time that the pool pump cycles on.

(wattsmart via Pacific Power)

Congratulations!

To the New Graduates of COOPER and ARMSTRONG High Schools ~

Wishing You a Bright and Efficient Future!

Today's Energy Insight

Myth: Leaving lights, computers, and other appliances on uses less energy than turning them off and also makes them last longer.

Fact: The small surge of power created when some devices are turned on is vastly smaller than the energy used by running the device when it is not needed. While it used to be the case that cycling appliances and lighting on and off drastically reduced their useful lifetimes, these problems have been largely overcome through better design.

(science beat at the Berkeley Lab)

Reduce Reuse Recycle Repurpose

Stop! Wait a minute! Before you reduce your school office, area or classroom inventory of supplies and equipment by throwing something in the trash, ask yourself...

Can I recycle this?

Can I re-use it next school year?

Can this be re-purposed?

Educators are some of the most resourceful people I know and have been ahead of the Etsy trend for years. Pinterest and other websites are full of clever and crafty ideas. If your staff lounge doesn't have a corner or table designated for "sharing" yet, think about setting one up. At the Education Services Center there is a table on the lower level for staff freebies. Whether it be desk supplies, wall decor or just random office items needing a new home, you never know what treasure you will find there. It's in the back corner of the staff break room if you want to check it out next time you are over at the ESC. And remember the four R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Repurpose.

etsy.com

indulgy.com

reddit.com

Today's Energy Insight

Schools in the US spend $8 billion a year on energy, second only to salaries and more than is spent on text books and computers combined.

Wow, that's a lot of energy and a lot of money. By making simple changes and just being more conscious of our energy use, we can  and do make a difference.

So please turn off lights and power down electronics when you can.  Thanks for doing your part!

Today's Energy Insight

It's that time of year again. Pretty soon hallways will be empty of students and most staff will head off for summer break. There are many opportunities to save energy during June, July and August. As you prepare to leave your classroom, office, or area for an extended break, please make sure to do the following to keep our buildings operating efficiently throughout the summer months:

• Close blinds and drapes.
• Keep vents clear of books and boxes.
• Turn off monitors, printers, speakers, smartboards, etc.
• Turn off and unplug all miscellaneous electronics.
• Take home any plants and animals.
• Consolidate refrigerators in staff lounges; turn off, clean and prop open all but one in each building.
• Empty, turn off, clean and prop open refrigerators in FACS rooms and science labs.
• Look around, be aware of any opportunities to save energy during the unoccupied summer months.

 Thanks for doing your part, together we can and do make a difference!