Best Ways to Save Energy

UMBC has committed to addressing our carbon footprint. We purchase 20% of our energy from renewable sources, and are always improving our facilities to conserve energy. We have reduced our carbon emissions 13.3% since 2007, we aim for 15% reductions by 2015. Everyone on campus can help!

Heating and Cooling has the biggest impact on our energy use and carbon footprint, along with electricity use and transportation. Here’s what all of us can be doing to save energy on campus:

Temperature Control

• We keep windows and exterior doors closed to keep air conditioning inside.
• We stay comfortable by dressing for the weather, instead of plugging in extra space heaters.
• We never use space heaters on campus. Facilities Management’s HVAC Shop may provide temperature space heaters if there is an issue with the heating system.
• We keep equipment (such as copiers or PCs) and large furniture away from thermostats.

Temperature set points:

• Our set points are 70^o F in the heating season (winter) and 76^o F in the cooling season (summer)
• These are consistent with federal/state guidelines of 68^o F in winter and 78^o F in summer.
• Set points are set by Facilities Management for centrally controlled systems.
• When we control thermostats we to adhere to these settings.
• We report a room or area that is beyond the range of 68^o F and 78^o F by notifying Work Control (410-455-2550).
• Spaces with critical temperature requirements (such as research labs), can request an exception to the campus standards by contacting UMBC’s Energy Manager, Shawn Blum (shawn@umbc.edu).

Lighting:

• We turn off lights when exiting rooms and whenever daylight provides sufficient lighting.
• On hot, sunny days, we partially close the shades or blinds to reduce the solar heat gain.
• Use task lighting, adding light only on the area where you are working.
• Except for reasonable display lightly (such as in retail areas), purely decorative lighting in not permitted, inside or outside.

Electronics:

• When purchasing computers, monitors, electronic equipment, electrical appliances, etc., look for products with the Energy Star label- choose the most energy-efficient products when possible.
• Set your computer and monitor to hibernate when unattended for more than 15 minutes. If you need instructions visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_mgt_more_tips
• Enable power management features on copiers and office equipment so that they automatically power down and hibernate when not in use, such as nights and weekends.
• We share a fridge and other appliances with our officemates and neighbors, rather than each of us plugging in our own mini fridge and coffeemaker in every room.

Practices:

• In unoccupied spaces during nights, weekends, and holidays, air conditioning equipment/fans are shut off.
• Unoccupied space temperatures float down to 60^o F in the heating season and up to 85^o F in the cooling season.
• For warehouse/storage areas with no air conditioning, the heater’s thermostats will be set no higher than 55^o F.
• Domestic hot water temperatures and hot water heaters will be set at 115^o F.