Energy Efficiency Brainstorm

A few assemblies ago, the whole school brainstormed a list of things that we could do to reduce energy consumption around campus. Typing up the list, I was impressed at the level of seriousness and creativity expressed by the student population. Here's the list:


ENERGY EFFICIENCY BRAINSTORM
JANUARY 2007

THINGS PEA IS WORKING ON
• Install light sensors in buildings
• Using non-toxic cleaning supplies
• Instituting rolling brown outs around campus (dorms during the day, other buildings at night)
• Installing clothes lines at each dorm
• Sponsoring a light bulb buy back program
• Off-setting the carbon from Blackwater Ski Hill
• Changing over outdoor lighting to make it more efficient.

THINGS INDIVIDUALS CAN DO
• Turn off hallway and other unnecessary lighting
• Close classroom doors, so magnets aren’t activated.
• Turn lights off
• Walk or run to the ski hill
• If it’s yellow, let it mellow
• Use powerstrips and switch them off when not using them
• Turn off lights in Music Studio
• Play hockey on the pond (at least every once in a while!)
• Turn off the 2nd floor dining room lights during lunch
• Close lights when not in room
• Unplug microwaves and TV during the day
• Take quick showers
• Don’t use hair dryers
• Lower thermostats at night
• Hang laundry to dry
• Wash clothes in cold water
• Use a real coffee mug, not a disposable one
• Don’t buy bottled water
• Use direct lighting instead of many lights when studying
• Don’t throw away old clothes; give them away, instead
• Walk or ride or skate or unicycle… But don’t drive around campus!
• Shut off bathroom lights when not in use
• Recycle
• Close microwave door
• Avoid paper or plastic disposable cups, plates, utensils
• Open shades instead of turning on lights
• Don’t block windows in rooms
• Shut off power in dorms and buildings (2am – 6am)
• Un-plug lava lamps when not in use
• Carpool if you are a day student

THINGS WE NEED FACULTY TO COMMIT TO
• Drive buses only when full. (faculty)
• Assigning paperless assignments (faculty)
• Having class without lights, when bright enough
• Faculty shouldn’t drive around campus
• Switch off faculty room computers

IDEAS TO LOOK INTO
• Circuit breaker shut off in
• Making a commitment to buy only hybrid and/or alternative fuel vehicles
• Installing low flush and/or composting toilets
• getting rid of the faculty room computers
• Installing solar water heaters
• posting more lights out signs in dorms/buildings
• Install water filters around campus
• Generating power from exercise equipment
• Solar and wind and micro hydro power
• Less Lawn!
• Using push mowers when possible
• Only buy printers that can print double sided
• Once and for all, fix the heat in the dorms!!
• Supplying every student room with two power strips
• Lights out at in room time!
• Making sure ski hill lights are necessary every time they are on
• Check light bulbs around campus… Make sure all are compact florescent
• Off-setting the carbon the school uses
• Wind power on Ragged or Blackwater
• Increasing South-South-East windows
• Decreasing North-North-West windows
• Sell more power strips and other ecofriendly products at the bookstore
• Look into how efficient washers and driers are.
• Conducting a nighttime audit