Energy Conservation

• Switch off heaters after use.
• Ensure heaters are fitted with one hour timing devices.
• Only use heaters when necessary. Dress to suit weather conditions -
• wear warmer clothing to reduce requirement for heating.
• Where practical:
• Open windows to provide ventilation and heat exchange.
• Open windows in winter to allow warmer air inside.
• Open windows in summer to let hot air escape and breeze enter.
• Use natural ventilation in preference to fans and air-handling systems.
• With natural ventilation, ensure there are two openings in the room to allow air flow.
• Close external doors during winter to lock in heat and keep out cold air.
• Close external doors during summer to keep in cool air.
• Replace old air conditioning units with new models approved by Facilities Management, which are linked to the central cooling system.
• Purchase Rheem hot water systems when existing urns are replaced. Facilities Management will contribute fifty percent of the cost (approximately $800).
• Report heating, cooling or ventilation problems to Central Plant extension 2009.

• Evaluate your needs carefully
• Consider more efficient alternatives (eg. an electric kettle)
• Select the smallest suitable unit
• Install a timer to switch unit off outside working hours
• Contact Facilities Management to arrange replacement of urns with boiling water units.
• Switch off urns at night.

• Purchase Laser printers rather than slow inkjet models
• Activate sleep mode on computers where possible
• Purchase power cycled computers for laboratories
• Conduct experiments which require power before 9 am and after 3 pm (9 am to 3 pm is the peak period for power use on campus and the University is charged at a higher rate between these hours)
• Minimise hot water usage
• Switch off printers, photocopiers when leaving the building.
• Switch computer and monitor off when leaving the building
• When leaving computer for more than one hour, switch off monitor
• Ensure computer power saving functions are operational

• Purchase energy efficient equipment and machinery.
  

• Switch off all lights after lectures or when leaving the building in the evening or when leaving the room for more than one hour
• Ascertain whether teaching venues will be required after they leave so they can either leave the lights on or close the premises for the evening
• Turn on lights only when there is inadequate lighting. Lighting is not required where there is natural light
• Allow blinds to let the light in
• Ensure recommended energy-efficient lighting fittings are used to replace existing fittings. Check with Facilities Management.

• Switch off lights when not in use.

• Report unnecessary lighting to the Security Office on extension 3020.
• During holiday periods, ensure lights are not switched on when they are not required.
• Notify Facilities Management if more energy-efficient lighting is required.

 Action

• rapid start from cold (less than 30 seconds)
• user-friendly controls (ask staff to evaluate)
• low power consumption
• power management features (eg. sleep mode)
• double-sided copying
• A3 to A4 reduction
• ability to use recycled paper without voiding warranty
• extra bin for re-used paper
  

When using copiers:

• turn off when not in use
• ensure power management features (eg. sleep mode) operate
• minimise paper use by using E-mail & circulation lists
• use double-sided copying and reduce whenever possible
• use recycled (or high recycled content) paper and reuse paper
• copy in batches when possible
• ensure staff are trained to use energy and paper saving features

Responsible person

When purchasing fax machines:

• Select an energy-efficient, 'inkjet-type', plain paper unit with low standby power consumption
• For low volume use where faxes are not required for permanent records, consider a thermal fax with low standby power consumption
• Consider paperless alternatives, including fax-modems and E-mail (but beware if they require computers or printers to be left on continuously)
• Where a laser fax is required, select one with the lowest possible standby power consumption
  

When using a fax machine:

• Re-use paper in plain paper faxes
• Use recycled (or high recycled content) paper in plain paper faxes
• Ensure paper is not wasted printing separate reports for each transmission
• Switch off units when they are not required

Responsible person

Action

Purchase computers which are more energy-efficient:

• Laptop/notebook computer
• Laptop with an energy-efficient conventional computer Visual Display Units (VDU's)
• Energy-efficient desktop computer (with sleep mode at least twice as efficient as the 'Energy Star' requirements
• Where power quality and reliability are uncertain, purchase a laptop computer in preference to a desktop unit with a power supply which cannot be interrupted.
  

When using computers or visual display units:

• Turn off when not in use
• Ensure power management features (eg. sleep mode) operate
  

Purchase a computer VDU with the following functions:

• Liquid crystal display
• Smallest, lowest resolution unit practicable
• Energy-efficient colour VDU
• Power management features better than 'Energy Star' standard for existing computers
• Energy-efficient VDU that uses software to control its power-management features

Responsible person

Action

Departments

Purchase printers with the following functions:

• Ink jet or dot matrix printer
• Capacity to use recycled (or high recycled content) paper without voiding warranty or adverse impact on reliability
• Double-sided printing capability
• Capacity to be shared among several users
• Where a laser printer is required, select an energy-efficient model ('Energy Star' rating with sleep mode power consumption preferably below five watts)
• Where possible, use email and electronic archiving in preference to printing.

When using printers:

• Switch off when not in use
• Ensure power management features are operational
• Re-use paper
• Use recycled (or high recycled content) paper
• Use alternatives such as E-mail and circulation lists
• Train staff to use energy and paper saving options

Responsible person 

 Action

Departments 

All office equipment purchased should where possible:

• Have minimum packaging, preferably using a single recycled (or high recycled content) material, or easily separated, clearly identified recycled materials where possible
• Be manufactured from recycled materials
• Be designed for easy disassembly, with components marked for recycling
• Have long-life consumable components, with convenient refilling/recycling programmes
• Have the capacity to use recycled paper reliably, without affecting the warranty
• Have minimum impact on the quality of the office environment
• Have support from the seller for recycling of materials used, and the product itself when it is due for replacement

Responsible person

 Action 

Departments
 

When purchasing equipment:

• Higher power rating does not necessarily mean better performance
• Ask for information on power consumption (when operating and on standby)