What is
Sustainability?

Program
Deliverables

How Can I
Help?

The Arboretum at
Penn State Behrend

HOW CAN I HELP?

Energy Savings: Off-Campus Students

• Dress appropriately for the weather. (In warm weather, wear short sleeved clothing, and light fabric; in cold weather, wear layers.)
• Have local utility perform an “energy audit” of your house/apartment.
• Persuade landlord/parents to:
  • Weather strip/caulk cracks in doors/windows.
  • Insulate windows with thick curtains or blinds.
  • Install storm windows/doors.
  • Add insulation.
  • Keep heating/cooling equipment in top condition.
  • Consider a heat pump.
  • Install clock thermostat.
  • Buy proper size gas furnace that incorporates an automatic stack damper or induced draft fan, or an oil furnace with a flame-retention head burner.
  • Service oil furnace at least once a year.
  • Clean or replace the filter in forced-air heating system each month.
  • Buy energy-efficient air conditioner.
  • Make sure the ducts in your air-conditioning system are properly sealed and insulated.
  • Consider individual window or through the wall air conditioner units.
  • Install a whole-house ventilating fan.
  • Clean or replace air-conditioning filters a least once a month.
  • Plant trees around house to cool and protect from winds.
  • Install vents and exhaust fans to pull heat and moisture from the attic, kitchen, and laundry directly to the outside.
  • Apply glazing to windows or replace with high efficiency kind.
  • Install solar hot-water heather.
• Lower thermostat to about 65 degrees F during the day and 60 degrees at night during winter.
• Lower thermostat temperature and use fire place when applicable.
• Keep air conditioning thermostat as high as possible (around 78 degrees F).
• Don’t set thermostat at cooler setting than normal when turning conditioner on.
• Turn off window air conditioner when you leave a room for several hours.
• Use a fan in conjunction with your air conditioning unit.
• Keep windows by thermostat tightly closed.
• Don’t place lamps or TV sets near thermostats.
• Keep radiators clean and free of furniture/clutter.
• Keep daytime lights low or off.
• Turn off lights/other appliances when you leave a room.
• Replace conventional incandescent bulbs.
  • Compact fluorescent bulbs.
  • Frosted bulbs.
  • Reflector bulbs.
  • “Energy Miser” or “Supersaver” incandescent bulbs.
• Don’t overlight an area (use task lamps for studying/homework).
• Dust light fixtures and bulbs.
• Use blinds, curtains, or shutters to keep room from heating up in summer, and keep heat in the winter.
• Do cooking in the early morning or late evening hours.
  • Preheat oven the shortest amount of time.
  • Don’t “peek” into the oven.
  • Put lids on pots.
  • Match size of pot to the size of the burner.
• Use natural ventilation.
• Keep refrigerator temperature at appropriate setting (between 38 and 42 degrees F, for freezer 0 to 5 degrees F).
• Clean refrigerator condenser coils (unplug first!!).
• Do not buy halogen lamps.
• Use outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack to dry clothes.
• When using the drier:
  • Only dry full loads, but don’t over load.
  • Be sure to clean lint screen.
  • Do not set cycle to run longer than necessary, you can always start drier again.
  • Dry loads consecutively.
  • Separate heavy and light items.
• Use public transportation/bicycle/walking as much as possible.
• When using a automobile:
  • Try to always carpool.
  • Keep inside of automobile free of clutter; reducing auto weight can save 25% of energy used.
  • Install the most efficient tires available or radials.
  • Eliminate unnecessary trips.
  • Drive at a steady pace.
  • Minimize braking.
  • Don’t let the motor idle for more than a minute.
  • Don’t overfill the tank.
  • If buying a new car, buy an efficient one.
  • Use windows/vents instead of air conditioning.
  • Tint the windows.
  • Keep your car properly tuned.
  • Keep engine filters clean.
  • The gasoline octane and oil grade recommended for your car.
  • Check tire pressure regularly.
  • Use high quality multi-grade oil.
  • Wash your car at home.
  • Do not have air conditioner “serviced” unless you know it is broken.
  • Use a repair shop that use CFC recycling equipment.
• Computers:
  • Set computer for sleep mode.
  • Turn off monitor when not in use.
  • If buying a new computer, buy a laptop.
  • Set printer for power-saving mode, or turn off in between prints.