Energy Conservation at Work/School
Guidelines for Energy Management Overview
EPA offers a proven strategy for superior energy management with tools and resources to help each step of the way. Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR® partners, these guidelines for energy management can assist your organization in improving its energy and financial performance while distinguishing your organization as an environmental leader.
To learn more about the Guidelines for Energy Management, please visit the EPA ENERGY STAR® web site
What You Can Do:
- Turn lights out when leaving a room. If you are gone for more than two minutes, turn out the lights, except for HID fixtures (such as warehouse lighting), which require a warm-up period.
- Wherever practical, use a task light instead of the overhead lighting.
- Use daylighting when available by turning off lights near windows.
- Have maintenance staff delamp fixtures that produce a harsh glare or in areas that are over lit.
- Avoid using incandescent lights when possible. Compact fluorescents use less than one third of the energy and last up to ten times longer.
Office Equipment
- Turn off computer monitors when not in use. Computers come with a sleep mode that is activated through the screen saver control feature.
- Unless your agency updates programs at night, turn off the computer and monitor at the end of the day.
- Make sure the office copier is turned off at night. New copiers with ENERGY STAR® features of low power standby are the best choice when replacing machines. Be sure the ENERGY STAR® features are activated. Fax machines come with power saver modes as well.
- Set printers and copiers to use double sided printing/copying where available.
Space comfort
- Move desks and cubicles away from windows. Windows are a source of drafts and draw heat from people in winter, making them feel colder.
- During cool weather, open blinds for light and warmth and close drapes at the end of the day to reduce heat loss at night. In warm weather, close blinds to reduce cooling load.
Appliances
- Turn off power on "optional" equipment/spaces after hours (vending machines, trash compactors, display cases, personal computers, coffee makers, etc.)
- Have the vending machine operator turn off the advertising lighting in machines.
Utilities and maintenance
- Report HVAC/energy-related problems to the appropriate personnel.
- Report any leaks or other water problems (leaky faucets, toilets running, sprinklers that water sidewalks, etc.) to the building operator.
- Develop and maintain an energy accounting system to track utility usage and to identify any abnormality in energy use or billing errors.
More Information
- For more information on Energy Efficiency in the workplace/school, please visit the ENERGY STAR® web site
- Sign up for Utah's Powerforward program