 Turn
lights off in unoccupied spaces The
statement, "It takes more energy
to turn off a fluorescent light than
it does to keep it on", is a
common myth. The fact is, the energy
it takes to start a fluorescent lamp
is negligible compared to the energy
used to power the lamp over time.
If you leave a room vacant for more
than 5 minutes, it is always cost
effective to turn out the lights.
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Fact
Turning the heat down by 1ºF will save 3% of the
energy needed to heat that space.
Fact
Every hour a window is open, $.50 in energy escapes.
Fact
Shutting a computer down at the end of each day and before
each weekend can save over $400 a year.
Fact
Natural daylight provides free lighting and free heating
and has been shown to increase student performance. |
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Turn
monitors off when not in use and
shut computers down at night Because
technology has become a large part
of our electric bill, it is important
that everyone understands how to
operate this equipment efficiently.
Energy consumption from computers
and peripherals is directly related
to the length of time they are on,
regardless of whether or not they
are being used.
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Let
the sun shine in Not only is
daylight a free source of lighting,
the sun's rays connect us to life,  give
us energy, and make us feel good.
Diffused daylight has been shown
to improve student test scores. Open
your blinds to let daylight into
a room. shut off lights that are
near windows and skylights. Evenings
and weekends - pull the blinds to
buffer the room from heat or cold.
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Recycling
saves energy 3 R's: "Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle" Recycling saves
space in our landfill. Our mixed
paper recycling efforts for school
year 99-00 = 386 Tons of recycled
paper and 5903 pounds of tin from
Food & Nutrition Services.
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| Recommended
Heating Set Points |
62º
Hallways
Storage |
65º
Gyms
Cafeterias
Kitchens
Restrooms
Auditoriums |
71º
Classrooms
Libraries
Offices
Lounges |
|
Heat
offices and classrooms to 71ºF Everyone's
comfort level is different. However,
the standard recommended heating
set point is 71ºF. Areas with
infrequent or high-volume occupancy,
such as hallways and cafeterias,
can typically be maintained at lower
temperatures. For efficiency as well
as safety, keep books and other materials
away from all heating vents.
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Myth
#1
The energy used to start a fluorescent bulb is so great
that it will offset any energy savings from turning the
lamp off.
Fact
NOT! The energy usage during start up is comparable to
5 seconds or less at normal operation. Therefore, turning
the lights off for more than 5 seconds will save more
energy than leaving them on.
Myth #2
Frequent switching of fluorescent bulbs will reduce lamp
life, thereby increasing annual lamp replacement cost.
Fact
By turning the lamps off, the lamp calendar life - measured
in years - is extended.
Break Even Points
The following guidelines are the times a light needs
to be off before the cost of turning it on again, and
the increase in lamp failure are outweighed.
Incandescent Bulbs: 3 sec.
Fluorescent Lights: 5 min.
Mercury Vapor:30 min.
Metal Halide: 30 min.
Halogen: 5 min.
Myth #3
You use as much or more energy heating a space back up
than you saved by setting back the temperature.
Fact
More energy will be saved by turning DOWN the heating
system and then subsequently re-heating a space than
will be saved by leaving the heating system ON consistently. |
|
Keep
doors and windows closed Although
it is convenient to prop outside
doors open during transitions periods,
an open door will make the heating/cooling
system work much harder. Likewise,
an open window will not only waste
conditioned air, but will often short
circuit the heating/cooling system.
The thermostat thinks it needs to
heat/cool the room, even though the
air is going out the window. Thermostats
are calibrated to monitor an enclosed
space.
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Water
is a precious resource If water
is being wasted, please report it.
We pay twice for every metered drop
-- once for the water and then again
for every gallon that runs into the
sewer.
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Use
Student Assistants as Energy Eyes Enlist
the help of your students as Watt
Watchers, Computer Corp, Light Monitors,
Recycling Agents. You'll be amazed
at how vigilant and conscientious
young people are. Our modeling of
the wise use of resources is being
observed and imitated by our students.
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Our
Rate of Consumption is worth noting: Often
it is not until one is faced with
a visual representation of the rate
with which we are using our resources
that we can begin to appreciate our
impact.
|
|
Boise School District Resource Conservation
400 Fort Street, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 854-6752
Fax: (208) 854-6741
Steve.Mabe@boiseschools.org
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