Unplug! That is the message to faculty, staff and students to take with them before they leave for the holiday break. York community members are being reminded to switch off, unplug and help save energy during the University’s holiday closure, Dec. 23 to Jan. 4.
York University is more than midway through its five-year plan to reduce institutional energy consumption by 25 per cent, while improving teaching, learning and work environments and advancing the University’s broader environmental sustainability goals. The holiday closure presents a perfect time for each person on campus to put some simple steps into action to conserve energy, says Helen Psathas, York’s senior manager of Environmental Design and Sustainability.
"We are quickly approaching the end of year. This is an important time to remind people in your department, residence floor, or building of the importance of shutting down computers, lights, small office or kitchen appliances, and other personal electronics before they leave for the holidays," she says. "This simple gesture can yield tremendous results given that staff and faculty operate more than 8,000 computers and together, the Keele and Glendon campuses have more than 140,000 internal lights.”
Students in York’s residences are being encouraged to turn off the lights and unplug their personal computers in their residence rooms. Each residence will be competing to achieve the highest percentage energy reduction (average kilowatt usage per student) as part of the Res Race to Zero, a fun and "energetic" competition that sees residences competing to reduce their energy consumption and footprint.
The following is a list of suggestions from University Information Technology (UIT) that can be taken to reduce energy. Note, the ability to shut down certain electrical devices will vary depending on the departmental requirements, and if you are not sure, contact your manager or supervisor, and your UIT representative for more information and guidance:
Computer monitors
- Every evening, weekend and holiday: Turn off your computer monitor. Much of the energy for your desk is used by your monitor.
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As a default setting: Configure your monitor to go to stand-by mode after a short period of inactivity. This can be done simply in the Power Use menu. Reduce screen brightness to a level comfortable for your eyes.
Desktop computers
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Every evening, weekend and holiday: Consider turning off your computer; but be mindful of updates when you are turning it back on (i.e. delay in start up due to updates). Some updates can be implemented in stand-by mode.
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Unplug USB devices when not charging or data-transferring.
Laptop computers
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Every evening, weekend and holiday: Consider turning off your computer; but be mindful of updates when you are turning it back on (ie. delay in start up due to updates). Some updates can be implemented in stand by mode.
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Unplug USB devices when not charging or data-transferring.
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Unplug your laptop during work-hours when you don’t need it – allow the laptop to run on battery, plugging in only to re-charge and before leaving for the day to extend your battery’s life.
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Reduce brightness on your monitor for normal use.
Personal printers
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Every evening, weekend and holiday: Turn off, then unplug, your printer. Be safe – do not turn off the device if the switch is difficult to reach. Always unplug from the socket, not the device.
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Consider eliminating your personal printer and using a departmental/network printer to reduce energy consumption.
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Departmental printer power settings can be set to energy savings.
Photocopiers
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Every evening, weekend and holiday: Turn off your photocopier.
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Check with the person responsible in your department in the event that there is data tracking.
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As a default: Set department photocopier power settings to energy savings, or ask your Information Technology representative or photocopier service representative to do so.
Shredder
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Every evening, weekend and holiday: Turn off your shredder.
For more information, visit the Yorkwise Web site and click on the Unplug icon. For information on reducing your own carbon footprint, visit the Zerofootprint Web site, which offers a free and easy-to-use carpon footprint calculator.