Energy Efficiency Savings to the Department:Substainable or Green Proposal
Turn all computers equipment, machinery other mechanical appliances off when not in use. Recycle, reduce and re-waste, i.e. print or photocopy on both sides of papers, recycle envelopes and lbels and turn scrap paper into notepads. Set your computer in sleep mode when not in use.
Switch off unnecessary light during the day, paricularly near windows or in corridors which do not require bright light. Position desks and workstations to make best use of natural light. Ask the last person to leave the office to ensure that turn-off including printers, fans,, computers and lights. Install motion sensors.
Turn down the heating and wear warmer clothes in winter. Liason with maintenance health and safety staff to tackle over-heating caused by poorly maintained equipment or ventilation, Clean or replace filters on the office furnace and air conditioner.
Start a recyling program -- get recyling bins for all plastic and paper make more visible by cafertia and hallways.
Use high-efficiency equipment, especially if the equipment has been chosen to earn The EngeryStar label.
Energy efficieny the Department by install heating, ventialting and air condition (HVAC) equipment. Choose a HVAC system size appropriate to the building for best efficient and comfort. Monitor air quality levels to keep them within a healthy range.
Dorothy.J.Buie
shared this idea
Adminjay austin
(idea implementer, US Department of Housing & Urban Development)
responded
The Department supports responsible use of energy, and has taken several steps to make our offices more energy-efficient. We currently have motion-sensor lights installed in many rooms, recycling bins in our offices and hallways, and the headquarters building is currently undergoing a multi-year HVAC and energy efficiency upgrade. The Department also promotes responsible use of paper and printing resources amongst its staff.
For more about HUD’s commitment to energy efficiency, see this page: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/training/web/energy/programs/hud.cfm.
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4 comments
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Jennyth Mozenko Peterson
commented
For reference:
"Power-Down or Sleep Mode Features
Many PCs available today come with a power-down or sleep mode feature for the CPU and monitor. ENERGY STAR® computers power down to a sleep mode that consume 15 Watts or less power, which is around 70% less electricity than a computer without power management features. ENERGY STAR monitors have the capability to power down into two successive "sleep" modes. In the first, the monitor energy consumption is less than or equal to 15 Watts, and in the second, power consumption reduces to 8 Watts, which is less than 10% of its operating power consumption.
Make sure you have the power-down feature set up on your PC through your operating system software. This has to be done by you, otherwise the PC will not power down. If your PC and monitor do not have power-down features, and even if they do, follow the guidelines above about when to turn the CPU and monitor off.
Note: Screen savers are not energy savers. Using a screen saver may in fact use more energy than not using one, and the power-down feature may not work if you have a screen saver activated. In fact, modern LCD color monitors do not need screen savers at all."
By my math, turning the monitors off when not in use would effect the following advantage of allowing sleep mode:
8 W X 128 hours ( 16 non working hours per week night + Saturday & Sunday) x 8500 HUD employees = 8700KW per week saved or 452,600 KW per year
Assume $.10 per KWH or energy savings of $45,000 per year
Quote Source: http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10070
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Jennyth Mozenko Peterson
commented
We are told to keep our laptops and desktops connected and hibernated so that new programs can be pushed down. However, your monitor is still left on (and goes into a hibernate mode as well). No need for that to stay on, so perhaps we could encourage turning off monitors at the switch every night. Or perhaps we could get our computer support folks to push down software patches on a schedule rather than insisting we keep our units in hibernate at night
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Just regarding turning off computers, this idea was submitted and declined here: http://hudideasinaction.uservoice.com/forums/33262-employee-feedback/suggestions/1146589-turn-off-computers-when-not-in-use; The IT department actually performs a number of maintenance and upgrading activities on computers overnight. These tasks must be done at night while the computers are not in use and the computers must be on for these updates to work.
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Jackie McBride
commented
Also, turn thermostats in offices to a setting that would allow offices to be comfortable, not cold, for sizable cost savings. Some offices have temperatures that are 66 degrees when the outside temperature is 100 degrees.
