The Green Review

Below you will find several energy-saving tips explicitly designed for residences. Each of them is simple, and the savings would be enormous if all students living on campus were to do them. Are you up for the Challenge?

Turn off the lights.
One of the easiest things to do is ensure all lights – your room, the washrooms and common rooms - are turned off when they are not in use. Any light turned off will save more money and energy than a light switched on (regardless of efficiency and type).

Capture the Free Light.
Once you have mastered the art of turning off unused lights, you can increase your savings by only using lights when needed. Most residence rooms get a significant amount of sunlight throughout the day. Try opening your blinds and taking advantage of natural sunlight when working and hanging out in your room during the day.

Turn Off Computers and Set Energy Saving Functions.
Leaving a desktop computer turned on overnight consumes 2-4 kWh of electricity - that’s 2.2 pounds of coal every night. With the vast majority of students owning personal laptops and having a lifestyle in which they use their computers for several hours a day, the energy needed to power the computers in our residence halls is tremendous. Although using your laptop is often necessary, it is also essential that you shut it off and set the energy-saving functions for when it is not in use. When energy-saving functions like sleep mode are developed, desktops use 87% less energy, and laptops use 84% less. Still, even better than sleep mode is turning your computer off completely.
Note that the Screensaver is not an energy-saving function. They are explicitly designed to protect the screen and use the same energy as when the computer is in use.

Unplug your Mini-fridge (as applicable).
A mini-fridge accounts for over half the electricity in the average residence room. Therefore, one of the most significant contributions you can make to reduce your energy footprint is to unplug your refrigerator. Although it is handy to keep some things cold, is it really necessary to run your mini-fridge all year? Instead, consider teaming up with neighbours and sharing a fridge or claiming space in the common room refrigerator.

Take Short Showers.
Five minutes in a standard shower can use approximately 100 L of water, and it takes a tremendous amount of energy to warm that water. Reducing shower time and using less hot water can dramatically reduce energy and water use.

The Cold-Water Wash.
90% of the energy consumed by laundry machines is put into heating the water. Today's soaps are designed for cold water use; they cost about the same and produce similar results to traditional laundry detergents. PS: Make sure you wash a full load to use water efficiently.

Use a Drying Rack instead of the Dryer.
A dryer consumes anywhere from 4 to 6 kWh. Use a clothesline or drying rack and save that energy.

Don’t leave your Radio/Stereo playing while you’re away.
Be sure to turn off your radio and stereo before you leave for class, dinner, or home for the weekend. Every bit helps!

Reduce the use of a Hairdryer.
Air or Towel Dry your hair instead; hairdryers are among the most energy-intensive appliances; many use over 1500 watts, which is enough electricity to light over 100 CFL or LED light bulbs (i.e., enough to power every morning in three average houses, all at once). The European Union is considering new regulations to outlaw high-wattage hair dryers as part of a more significant effort to save energy and fight climate change.

Talk!
Energy saving is a hot topic! Talk with your floor and learn how each can do better. Discuss and share ideas. You will probably come up with some creative ideas that are a lot of fun. This is also the best way to learn about how this challenge fits into broader-scale environmental initiatives and university students' role as environmentalists, conservationists, and aware global citizens.