Share your answer: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2009/07/27/qotw-save-energy/

Q: What’s the easiest way to save energy during summer break?

A: Turn off all lights that are not needed for security. 

In a typical school, lighting accounts for 30% of all electricity used.  Turning off lights is one of the simplest ways to save energy over a break – even just a long weekend – and everyone can get involved with helping flip the switches.

Q: What consumes the most energy in summer?

A. Cooling demands the greatest energy use.

As with homes, heating and cooling typically demand the greatest use of energy on campus. If only a few rooms of a building are being used during the summer months, try to contain these areas - the whole building does not need to be cooled! (Thermostat temperature and cooling practices should ultimately be determined by the energy or facilities manager.)

Q: What should be done about computers, monitors and related equipment?

A. Turn off computers or put them in sleep mode. Turn off other equipment.

Desktop computers add a significant load to university energy budgets.  Turning off one typical computer and monitor over a 7-day break saves $2.70 on average. While this may seem inconsequential, savings add up quickly when multiplied by the number of computers in use on a campus. Visit the Green IT@UT Web site to read about IT conservation initiatives on campus.

Q.  Should appliances be turned off?

A.  Remove or unplug all unused appliances.

Summer break is a great time to get rid of appliances that aren’t needed. Take home personal items such as mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers—at least for the summer. Even if an appliance is turned off, it still draws a small amount of energy called “phantom load.”  While small (usually around 1-5 watts) for each individual appliance, phantom load can quickly add up.  Almost any product having an external power supply, remote control, continuous display (including an LED), or that charges batteries, draws power continuously. Plug appliances into a power strip and cut the power off with one switch.

We have used a measurement and verification program* based on industry standards to measure and verify energy and water savings for phase 1 projects. For details about savings related to the specific projects, visit our Project Update or the individual Lighting, Steam or Water projects.

Reductions of CO2 emissions accomplished by our demand-side energy and water projects have been translated into equivalent usage in homes and vehicles as well as equivalent acres of pine and fir forests storing carbon (in the form of cellulose, lignin, and other compounds). Inputs for the conversions are CO2 emissions from the university’s electric power production and Environmental Protection Agency conversion factors. View this Greenhouse Gas Reductions chart to see the translations.

Each paragraph below contains a link to a larger supporting document.

DSEMC’s Measurement and Verification Program
The MV Documentation describes the bases, in terms of industry standards, for protocols used in measuring and verifying energy and water savings for the major UT conservation projects in 2008-09 (campus-wide lighting, water and steam upgrades). MV Documentation.

GHG Reductions
This table (see calculation doc below) translates the reductions of CO₂ emission and water use accomplished by the major UT conservation projects in 2008-09 (campus-wide lighting, water and steam upgrades) into equivalent usage in homes and vehicles, and into equivalent acres of pine and fir forests storing carbon in the form of cellulose, lignin, and other compounds. Inputs for the conversions are CO2 emissions from UT Austin electric power production and the conversion factors found at http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/refs.html. GHG Reduction Calculation

Lighting Savings Calculation
The following document describes the methods of measuring and calculating energy savings from the lighting upgrades on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in 2008-2009. Lighting Saving Calc. Overview

Lighting Savings Summary
This following tabulation summarizes building-by-building results of electricity demand and usage reductions accomplished by the lighting upgrades in 2008-2009 on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Lighting Savings Summary Overview

Water Savings Calculation
Narrative describing methods of measuring and calculating water savings from the 2008 upgrades to domestic water fixtures (toilets, urinals, shower heads and faucet aerators) on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus and installation of laboratory process cooling equipment (chillers) on the Main Campus. Water Saving Calc. Overview

Water Savings Summary
This tabulation summarizes building-by-building water savings accomplished by the 2008 upgrades to domestic water fixtures (toilets, urinals, shower heads and faucet aerators) on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Not included here are the estimated savings from installation of laboratory process cooling equipment (chillers) on the Main Campus. Water Savings Summary Overview

Steam Savings Calculation

Methods and results of energy savings calculations for the steam system upgrades in 2008, which consisted of replacing malfunctioning steam traps (valves) and insulating steam pipes and tanks on the Main Campus and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. Steam Saving Calc Overview

• 28 M-kWh / yr of electrcity = energy savings consumption of 1,506 Austin homes / yr
• 24  million lbs / yr of CO2 = taking 1,989 cars off the road
• $1.9M reduced UT electric energy growth / yr

Steam Efficiency Upgrade:

• 23,480 MMBTU of steam energy savings = energy savings to heat & hot water for 706 Austin homes
• 5.8 M-lbs of CO2 = planting 600 acres of Texas Pine trees
• $235,000 / yr. savings to UT

Water Efficiency Upgrades:

• 60 million gallons of water / yr. = 1-yr supply of water for 831 average Austin homes
• 288,000kWh ( city pump power)
• 246,000 lbs of CO2 (based on pump power
• $ 572,000 per year savings to UT

LIGHTING RECYCLING RESULTS:

• Ballast - 612,000lbs
• Lamps - 163,995 lbs.
• Carboard - 47,000 lbs.
• Metals - 119,000 lbs.

Thank to the Austin Chronicle, we’re able review The City of Austin’s (CoA) climate protection progress and look for information that may help improve UT’s steadily growing sustainability efforts.

Quick CoA ACPP Background

Over two years ago, The City of Austin pledged to:

• Make Austin’s facilities, vehicles, and operations carbon-neutral by 2020.
• Meet 30% of all energy needs with renewable resources by 2020.
• Implement the most energy-efficient building codes in the nation.

Current Status - 2 Years Since ACPP Enactment

Achievements

“(…) the municipality itself has made impressive strides. The big positive changes at Austin Energy, Austin Water Utility, the fleet department (..), and other city departments.”

“The consciousness of council, city management, and city staff across city departments has been raised. The entire organization now regards climate protection as a core value, like environmental protection.”

Difficulties

“(…) difficulty of translating a big municipal climate-protection plan into specific practices communitywide [Austin-wide] (…)”

“Asked about the unmet goals, ACPP Director Ester Matthews described a frustrating series of bureaucratic slow-downs, interdepartmental breakdowns, lack of authority to resolve problems at the right organizational levels, inability to effectively address public outreach, and difficulties created by the program’s dual residency at Austin Energy and the city of Austin.”

UT Austin should try to learn from CoA’s difficulties as we build the detail and instruction necessary to spark an institutionalized commitment to sustainability.

The CoA has had many green successes due to the incredible team of ACPP staffers - who are directed by measurable goals, implementation plans and delegation of responsibilities.

I hope that CoA staff succeeds greatly in their attempt to implement a comprehensive climate strategy.

Help us find and eliminate wasted energy by reporting over-cooling, over-heating, unnecessary lighting or other energy waste to the Facilities Service Department (DSEMC program) at 512-471-0492 or e-mail al.lewandowski@austin.utexas.edu or patrick.mazur@austin.utexas.edu.

DSEMC staff will try their best to address your request or comment. Thanks for your help!