Half of them (9,000) are set to go to sleep after 10 minutes of being idle; they’re turned off at night and weekends because they’re not being used. These are the “smart energy users” because they are using their computers as efficiently as they can be.

One quarter (4,500) are also set to go to sleep after 10 minutes but are not turned off at night or the weekends and remain in sleep mode during these times.

And the remaining quarter (4,500) are not set go into sleep mode but rather use a screensaver because their owners think this means the computer’s in energy-saving mode.

Now, again for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume all these computers are used in a 9-5 work setting. They’re actively worked on for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week (30 hours per week); they’re idle (not being actively used) for 2 hours each of these days (10 hours per week); and not actively used the rest of the week (138 hours per week). And let’s use a 52-week year, even though most students are not here over the summer weeks.

We can calculate the total annual electricity usage of these three categories, estimate their impacts and see what changes happen when these small energy-saving actions are taken by everyone. For a lesson on calculating energy usage see “What’s a watt-hour and how do I kilo it?” above.

The first category uses 2,419,560 kWh per year
(9000 x 30(170 watts) + 10(7 watts) + 128(0 watts)) x 52 = 2,419,560

The second category uses 1,419,444 kWh per year
(4,500 x 30(170) + 138(7)) x 52 = 1,419,444

And the third category uses 3,292,380 kWh per year
(4,500 x 30(170) + 138(65)) x 52 = 3,292,380

That’s a total of 7,131,384 kWh per year.

That costs CU about $713,138 per year (at $.10/kWh).

Generating this much electricity creates about 6,675 tons of climate changing greenhouse gases per year.

That’s the amount released by about 967 SUVs every year.

Now imagine if everyone did what the “smart energy users” do – set computers to go to sleep, turn them off when not used for several hours and not use screensavers.

We’d only be using 4,839,120 kWh per year (32% less!)

That would save us 2,292,264 kWh per year and $229,264 every year.

It would reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 2,146 tons every year.

That would be like taking 311 of those 967 SUVs off the road. Every year.

And that’s just the impact from cutting energy waste on computers. And it’s a very simple thing to set them to go to sleep. And even easier to turn them off. Obviously, the more people taking these actions the bigger the impact, so spread the word about cutting energy waste.

Read on for other waste-cutting actions that make an impact.

Lighting

Energy used in unnecessary or unused lighting is a big source of electricity waste. But it’s also a source of easy and inexpensive energy savings.

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• Turn off lights when you aren't in the room and lights that are aren’t needed.

• And as long as you’re stuck indoors, let some daylight in and use it for lighting instead of electric lights.

• Don’t use halogen bulb torchiere lamps (the ones with the tiny bulbs that shine upwards). They are inexpensive to buy but use a lot energy, produce a lot of heat (making it harder to cool the space in summer), and are a fire hazard.

Low-cost

• Use energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (commonly referred to as “CFLs”, see picture at right). These bulbs save LOTS of electricity and pay themselves with energy savings in a very short time. Although they cost a little more than incandescents (the round ones we’re used to), these light bulbs use a third of the energy of these others and last up to 10 years. CFL costs are dropping and varieties are increasing. The range of CFL styles and abilities are equal to the incandescent lightbulbs we’re used to and you can now get CFLs that are dimmable, provide a warm light and for outdoor use. They are also portable so you can take them if you move!

• Install automatic daylight and occupancy sensors. Daylight sensors keep your lights off when there’s enough daylight. Occupancy sensors turn and keep lights on for a pre-set amount of time when they detect motion in a room or outside. Occupancy sensors installed in workplaces can save up to 30% on lighting during normal working hours. These are also good for security lights that only need to go on when it detects someone’s around.

• Use timers for times you need lights on when you’re not around like vacations or for outside lights.
  

• Buy light dimmers so you can adjust the light when you don’t need full brightness. And ask for dimmable energy-saving CFL bulbs which are now available.

Personal electronics

It’s a fact of life. We can’t live without our TVs, DVD players, CD players, radios, video games, cell phones, MP3 players, and all the other electronics that entertain us and keep us in contact with others. But did you know there’s a lot of ways these electronics waste energy when we don’t even know it? Stopping this waste is pretty easy.

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• Chargers used to charge batteries in portable electronics -- cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, handheld video games and so on -- are one type of energy vampire. Even when they’re not charging anything, they continue to draw power when they’re plugged in. You can plug these chargers into a power control device like a power strip or “wall tap” (see picture at right) that plugs into an electrical socket and has a switch that cuts power to anything plugged into it. Or simply remember to unplug them when you’re not charging something.

Low-cost

• Anything with a remote control is considered a phantom load. Even when turned “off” your TV, stereo or whatever, is always a little “on”, waiting to receive a signal from the remote. You can plug these into a power strip or wall tap and flip the switch to shut off energy going to them when you’re done with them. Flip the switch back on when you’re ready to use them.

• Some home appliances, like coffee-makers and toaster ovens, can be bought with digital clocks in them. Unless you really need to tell time with your toaster, buy these appliances without clocks or other unnecessary energy-using gimmicks. Otherwise the only way to turn these clocks off is to unplug the device between uses.

To report energy or water waste on campus, contact the CU Energy Conservation Hotline at 303-735-6202 or email energyconservationhotline@fm.colorado.edu]

Computers and other office equipment

Computers, monitors, laptops, printers and the office equipment we need to get our work done use a lot of energy. And, like other energy-using devices in our lives, are often wasting energy when they don’t need to be.

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• Turn your computer – and monitor! – completely off any time you’re not using them for more than several hours. If you work in an office, this includes night and weekends. While true for much older computers, it is no longer true that turning computers on and off is hard on them or shortens their lifetime.

• Set your computer, monitor and laptop to go to “sleep” after being idle for about 10 minutes. This drops the energy they’re using by up 90%! Your work will not be lost. It’s easy to do and extends the energy of your laptop battery between charges.

• Don’t use screensavers! They don’t save energy. Your computer or laptop uses more energy to keep your screen lit than any other function. Depending on your monitor, screensavers might actually be using 40-100 watts of power. And they may prevent your computers from going into sleep mode if you have it set to. Set them to go to sleep instead of using screensavers.

• Turn “peripherals” – like printers and external modems -- and other office equipment – like copiers and fax machines -- completely off at night, weekends or whenever you’re not using them for several hours. Just because they go into energy-saving mode doesn’t mean they’re not using even a little energy (see “Kill your Energy Vampires” above).

• To make the last suggestion easier, try to locate these devices close to one another and plug them all into a power strip (see picture at right). Power strips are more than just multi-plug extension cords. When you flip the switch “off” they completely shut off all power to the equipment plugged into them. Flipping it back on turns everything on again.

• Print double-sided. Saves printer energy. And saves paper, which saves energy in itself.

Low-cost

• Flat-panel displays use a lot less energy (50%) than the big box monitors, called CRTs. They are also take up a lot less space.

• Inkjet printers consume much less electricity than laser printers.

Hot Water

Most of the hot water on campus and in Boulder homes and apartments is created by burning natural gas to heat the water. Natural gas, although less of a contributor to climate change than coal-fired electricity, still produces climate change gases and is an expensive fuel. Less-common electric water heaters also produce these gases because we use electricity to heat the water.

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• Reduce your time in a hot shower by 20%. On an 8-minute shower, that’s less than 2 minutes.

• Don't let the water (hot or cold) running while you’re shaving or washing your face. You’re just sending energy right down the drain.

• Use dishwashers and clothes washers only when you have a full load to clean. If you have to wash smaller loads, set the water level for the size of load you are washing.

• Wash clothes in cold water. Detergents today are designed to get clothes just as clean in cold water as hot. Hot water also sets stains into clothes and is harder on them than cold water.

• A lot of water heaters are pre-set to give you water much hotter than most people can tolerate. If you have control over your water heater, you can lower this setting through a dial located on the heaters itself. To test if your water heater is set too high, turn your faucet or shower to the hottest setting. If, after a minute, the water is hotter than you normally would use, turn down the pre-set temperature little by little until the hottest water meets your preference.

Low-cost

• Use “low-flow” showerheads and sink faucet aerators. These easy-to install devices add a small amount of air into the water flow reducing the amount of water used without a significantly noticeable difference in the pressure or amount of water coming out.

• If you own a home, insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while you’re waiting for the hot.

• If your water heater tank is more than a couple years old, insulate it with a “heater blanket.” This keeps your water hotter, longer, so your heater doesn’t have to use energy as often to keep the water tank at its pre-set temperature. Newer water heaters tend to already be better-insulated.

To report energy or water waste on campus, contact the CU Energy Conservation Hotline at 303-735-6202 or email energyconservationhotline@fm.colorado.edu]

Appliances

Even if you live in one of the Residence Halls or otherwise use appliances that you don’t own, stopping energy waste will lower energy bills and reduce climate change gases.

Appliance manufacturers have been making their products more and more efficient over time. So if you own one that is older than 10 years or is in need of replacement, consider buying the most energy efficient one you can afford. Keep in mind, the more efficient the appliance, the more you’ll save in energy costs its whole life. So a little extra spent at the beginning will save you money for a long time.

Practically all appliances have an energy efficiency rating which compares the model to the highest efficiency standard available. Models with the “Energy Star” label means it is one of the most efficient models on the market. But even some Energy Star appliances are more efficient than others, so compare the ratings of a few Energy Star models.

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• Always use the energy-saving setting on appliances like washers, dryers, and dishwashers, if they have one. Check the manual if you’re not sure how to do it. If they don’t have this setting, use the shortest wash, rinse or dry cycle. Don’t use the "rinse hold" setting on your dishwasher. It uses up to 7 extra gallons of hot water.

• Use the energy-saving settings on your refrigerator or set the temperature to 38 degrees. And 32 degrees for the freezer.

• Microwaves use about 65% less energy to cook than conventional ovens. And they cook faster too.

• Clean your dryer’s lint filter between every load. The dryer has to work harder when lint collects on the filter.

• If your dryer has a moisture-sensor, use it. This stops the dryer automatically when it senses your clothes are dry and prevents over-drying. Heat is hard on clothes, so this makes them last longer too.

• Dry your clothes outside on a clothesline if you can.

Low-cost

• Check your refrigerator for leaky seals. If you feel cold air around the closed door or if moisture collects around the door, you're losing energy. Call or email the manufacturer to ask about repairing bad seals.

Heating and cooling

Heating and cooling Residence Hall rooms, apartment or homes is one of the biggest energy users. Appliances that heat and cool your rooms or homes also have energy efficiency ratings (see “Appliances” above).

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• During cold months, keep drapes and curtains on southern facing windows open and use sunlight to help keep your home or apartment warm during the day.

• In the summer, close drapes and curtains on south-facing windows during the day to keep your place cooler.

• Air conditioning uses a lot of energy. Instead use ceiling or portable fans to circulate air and cool rooms. If you use them when your air conditioner is on, you can turn down the cooling control on the air conditioner.

Low-cost

• If you have a furnace for heating, replace the filters every month during heating season. Furnaces are designed to allow for easy filter replacement so don’t be intimidated. Make sure you know the dimensions of the filter you need before you head out to buy a replacement.

Energy savings for renters

As a renter you may find yourself stuck in energy usage “no man’s land”. Landlords generally don t pay energy bills, so they have no incentive to make efficiency upgrades to their properties. And you may not be there long enough to recoup the energy cost savings of your efficiency investments. So you get stuck paying high bills for drafty, uncomfortable homes. The good news is, you don’t have to be doomed to high energy bills and discomfort. There are plenty of low-cost, do-it-yourself energy upgrades and simple habits that will lower rental housing energy bills, make your home more comfortable and reduce your impact on climate change.

This section is currently being developed and will be completed by Wednesday, February 14. Please come back.