Energy-Efficient Lighting
• Take advantage of natural daylight when possible . Open the blinds and turn off your lights .
• Consider using desk lamps (“ task lighting ”) and reducing overhead lighting in the room .
• Replace burned out light bulbs with LED light bulbs where possible .
• If you spend a lot of time working at a computer , dim the lights in your room so you can easily see your computer screen without turning up the brightness level .
• Turn off lights when leaving a room .
Energy-Smart Computing
• Turn your computer off at night or when you are out of town . Also , do not turn your computer on until you are ready to use it . ( Note : Turning your computer on and off will not harm it . The life of a monitor and computer is related to the amount of time it is in use , not the number of on-and -off cycles .)
• Know this : the best screen saver is no screen saver at all .
• Do not plug in your printer until you are ready to print . Printers consume energy even while they are idling .
• Cut down on printing by reading e-mails and documents on the computer screen .
• Take advantage of power-efficiency settings ( available in the systems preferences of most newer computers ).
• When typing documents , format your document to as few pages as possible by using a smaller font , decreasing line spacing , and using double-sided printing .
• Review your document on the screen instead of printing a draft .
• Always buy and use recycled-content paper . Look for paper with 50-100 % post-consumer waste that is non-chlorine bleached .
• If possible , buy vegetable or non-petroleum-based inks . These printer inks are made from renewable resources , require fewer hazardous solvents , and , in many cases , produce brighter , cleaner colors .
• Recycle your print cartridges by contacting Staples ( 517-266-1176 ).
Water Conservation
• Use re-usable BPA-free water bottles instead of plastic . It takes three to five liters of water to make just a 1-liter plastic disposable bottle .
• Eat lower on the food chain . It takes 5,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of meat , while producing one pound of wheat takes 25 only gallons .
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two per day , and you ’ ll save up to 150 gallons of water per month .
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth , wash your hair and hands , and shave .
• Use cold to luke-warm water to hand wash dishes , not hot water . Also , don ’ t let the water run while rinsing .
• Wash clothes in cold water to save energy and to help clothes to maintain their color .
• Share water conservation tips with friends and dorm mates .
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