At Work

Office Equipment

• Turn off PCs, monitors, printers and copiers nightly and on weekends.
• If possible, use laptop computers - they use 90% less energy than desktop computers.
• Use inkjet instead of laser printers - they use 90% less energy.
• Purchase ENERGY STAR® equipment.

Lighting

• Avoid unnecessary decorative lighting, especially in unoccupied areas.
• Clean fixtures and diffusers annually.
• Install dimmers or occupancy sensors to lower energy use in copier rooms, restrooms, offices and meeting rooms; spaces which are only occupied on a periodic basis.
• Trim bushes and trees away from outdoor lighting to maximize illumination.

Heating & Cooling

• Keep vents closed in unoccupied areas to prevent unneeded heating or cooling.
• Install air conditioner economizers, which use outside air to cool buildings when outdoor air is cooler than indoor temperatures.
• Have heating and cooling systems properly maintained and serviced to maximize efficiency.
• Check air filters monthly and change or clean periodically.
• Brush off air conditioner evaporators.
• Check heating and cooling coils.
• Check ducts and vents.

Seasonally

• Check heating systems in the fall before the heating season begins.
• Open window shades in the winter to let the sun warm the building naturally and close in the evening to prevent heat loss.
• Check cooling systems in the spring, before the cooling season begins.
• In the summer, open windows and use only the fan portion of the cooling system when the outdoor air is cooler than indoor temperatures.