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Sustainability

University Sustainability Efforts, Recommendations and Energy Conservation Tips

The university has embarked on an Energy Conservation program with the goal of reducing energy consumption by 4% per year for the next five years.

The university has submitted a Strategic Energy Conservation plan to the State Energy Office. The plan calls for:

  • Review and analysis of utilities accounts and consumption
  • Establishment of benchmark consumption
  • Establishment of a campus Sustainability Committee
  • Study feasibility of electrical, steam, chilled water, and gas sub-metering
  • Study feasibility of installing unoccupied-mode controls in facilities

A campus Conservation Awareness Team will be established. Contact Dick Kabis at kabisd@wssu.edu or call 336-750-2870.

Energy Conservation Tips

  • Turn off room lights when exiting and when not in use.
  • Use fluorescent task lighting for office work and turn off general lighting.
  • Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient and money-saving fluorescent bulbs.
  • Eliminate individual office kitchen appliance use (e.g., refrigerators, microwave ovens, coffee makers, etc.) and consolidate to single break room units.
  • Eliminate space heaters from all offices and rooms.
  • Eliminate personal energy-consuming items such as fish tanks, decorative lighting, etc.
  • Turn off computers, printers and other office equipment at night, if not equipped with energy-saving features.
  • The North Carolina Energy code requires adherence to the following room temperature guidelines: Summer / 74 - 76 degrees F, and Winter / 70 - 72 degrees F.
  • Request vending machine lights be turned off.
  • Ensure water faucets are turned fully off.
  • Report energy wasters; for example, outside lighting turned on during daylight hours or leaking faucets. Submit a work request to schedule repairs.

Facts

An average space heater consumes 1400 watts (1.4 kilowatt) per hour. This is equivalent to the energy required by fourteen 100-watt bulbs. Based on actual utility costs, the university pays $.060 per kilowatt-hour in the winter. Therefore, the cost to the University of each space heater on campus is $48 per heating season.