When not in use, turn off the juice
College receives reward for curbing energy consumption
Timothy Fenster
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: News
The College at Brockport was recently given another incentive to reduce energy consumption. A check for $20,561.
The college was requested to reduce its energy use for one hour as part of a statewide test simulating excessive energy demands, for July 28. The campus exceeded its expectation reduction goal. As a result of the event, Brockport received more than $20,000 to be used toward new improvements in energy use on campus.
Since May 2005, the college has received $87,766 in incentive checks for energy reduction. Even more significant is the amount the college could save from energy bills. During the one-hour test, the campus saved almost $1,000 on its monthly electric bill.
"In the current budget climate, this is more important than ever," said Lou Spiro, Vice President for Administration and Finance. "Just imagine our utilities expenditures being reduced by $1,000 per hour - a great potential budget savings."
If the college is able to reduce energy consumption by the same amount they did for that one hour in July, it would save more than 2.5 million in electric bills over the course of one semester.
"Most of the buildings always have their lights on," Brockport student Frank Mottis said. "Even though classroom lights are turned off, the hall lights are always left on."
Energy conservation may not be difficult for many of us. According to Spiro, more than half our energy use comes from items we plug into outlets which present large opportunities to conserve.
"Please remember: When not in use, turn off the juice," Spiro said.
The United States is the largest energy consumer in the world and the country ranks seventh in the world in energy use per person. While a large amount of energy in the U.S. is used for industrial and commercial purposes, nearly half of all energy use is controlled by individual consumers.
"I turn off my computer at night, unplug things when I'm not using them and I try to take shorter showers," said Brockport student Jillian Adams.
Adams said she took Environmental Science and the course taught her how overusing energy has many negative effects on the environment.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people can take several steps to reduce energy use and save money on energy bills. Steps include frequently changing light bulbs in commonly used lights, washing your clothes in cold water and taking shorter showers.
Turning off lights, televisions, computers and other electronic devices when not in use will help save power as well.
The college was requested to reduce its energy use for one hour as part of a statewide test simulating excessive energy demands, for July 28. The campus exceeded its expectation reduction goal. As a result of the event, Brockport received more than $20,000 to be used toward new improvements in energy use on campus.
Since May 2005, the college has received $87,766 in incentive checks for energy reduction. Even more significant is the amount the college could save from energy bills. During the one-hour test, the campus saved almost $1,000 on its monthly electric bill.
"In the current budget climate, this is more important than ever," said Lou Spiro, Vice President for Administration and Finance. "Just imagine our utilities expenditures being reduced by $1,000 per hour - a great potential budget savings."
If the college is able to reduce energy consumption by the same amount they did for that one hour in July, it would save more than 2.5 million in electric bills over the course of one semester.
"Most of the buildings always have their lights on," Brockport student Frank Mottis said. "Even though classroom lights are turned off, the hall lights are always left on."
Energy conservation may not be difficult for many of us. According to Spiro, more than half our energy use comes from items we plug into outlets which present large opportunities to conserve.
"Please remember: When not in use, turn off the juice," Spiro said.
The United States is the largest energy consumer in the world and the country ranks seventh in the world in energy use per person. While a large amount of energy in the U.S. is used for industrial and commercial purposes, nearly half of all energy use is controlled by individual consumers.
"I turn off my computer at night, unplug things when I'm not using them and I try to take shorter showers," said Brockport student Jillian Adams.
Adams said she took Environmental Science and the course taught her how overusing energy has many negative effects on the environment.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people can take several steps to reduce energy use and save money on energy bills. Steps include frequently changing light bulbs in commonly used lights, washing your clothes in cold water and taking shorter showers.
Turning off lights, televisions, computers and other electronic devices when not in use will help save power as well.
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