Energy Conservation “Quick Facts” for SustainVU

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Energy Conservation Quick Facts Fact Sheet: Version 1.0 Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety Telephone: 322-2057 Fax: 343-4951 www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu Lighting " Combining modern florescent bulbs with dimmers or sensors can reduce energy consumption by 30% to 50%, according to the U.S. Department of Interior. " Lighting accounts for approximately 25% of electricity use as most universities, according to the U.S.

Department of Energy. " Replacing a singe incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb will keep 1,000 pounds of CO 2 from entering the atmosphere over the live of the bulb, according to Energy Star. Heating and Cooling " Heating and cooling buildings accounts for almost 40% of the average university 9s energy use, according to the U.S.

Department of Energy. " When used properly, programmable thermostats can save users approximately $150 per year (and per thermostat!) in energy bills, according to the EPA 9s Energy Star web site. " A room cooled to 75 degrees uses 28% more energy than a room that is cooled to 78 degrees 3 see the figure from Nashville Electric Service below for more details.

" A laboratory fume hood that runs continuously uses 3.5 times the energy of the average American house, as most laboratories are supplied ... more. less.

with 4 to 15 air exchanges per hour, according to Harvard University (2006). It is suggested that unused fume hood fans be turned off, or that hood sashes be closed to minimize the loss of cconditioned d air. Equipment Use " Equipment and other cplug-in d devices consume approximately 17% of the electricity at most universities, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. " Plug-in battery chargers for cell phones and other devices can draw up to 20 times more energy than is stored in the battery 3 even when not actively charging a product! You can save energy by keeping chargers unplugged when they are not actively recharging a device, according to the Energy Star web site. " The average office elevator consumes 350 watts of electricity to travel from one floor to the next, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. That 9s enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 3.5 hours. " Regarding electronic devices that have remote control (or cstand-by d capability), 40% of the energy used by these electronic devices during their lifetime is consumed when the item is in cstand-by d mode. Energy Conservation Quick Facts Fact Sheet: Version 1.0 Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety Telephone: 322-2057 Fax: 343-4951 www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainvu Other " Since 1988, the unit cost of electricity has been reduced at Vanderbilt by over 30%. " dEnergy Uncertainty d in foreign markets and in domestic production can have a direct effect on the availability of power Vanderbilt can buy from local utility providers. " In 2005, Harvard 9s energy conservation program saved the university 1.5 million dollars. However, their overall energy bill went up by $7 million due to the instability of the energy market (partially caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina). " Regarding schools that participate in the Energy Star K-12 program, the least energy-efficient schools consume three times more energy than the best energy performers! " Leaving your car at home just two days a week can reduce CO 2 emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year, according to the EPA.

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