Office of Sustainability urges campus to conserve energy during winter break

The Office of Sustainability at Western Washington University recently has introduced its 10 x 12 Program, a strategic element of the President’s Climate Commitment and the WWU Climate Action Plan.

The 10 x 12 Program has been created to help coordinate, educate and implement utility reduction throughout campus. The goal is to see a 10-percent reduction in electricity, natural gas and water consumption and landfill waste production by the end of 2012.

To that end, the office has released a few items WWU faculty and staff can do to conserve campus resources during the winter break.

Power Down for Break

If your office or workstation will be vacant for even one day during winter break, please take the following actions to reduce your energy use: 

• Turn off your lights
• Turn off and unplug your computer and your separate monitor
• Unplug all speakers, printers, copiers, fax machines, coffee makers, microwave and toaster ovens, water coolers, space heaters, etc.
• Shut your windows.
• Shut fume hood sashes (in lab buildings).
• Leave your thermostat at its normal setting. Building thermostats and radiators are monitored by the FM Energy Management Center, no localized adjustments are needed. 

What else can you do?

• Remind students and colleagues to power down before leaving campus.
• Turn off lights and shut windows in unoccupied rooms.

For more information about the Climate Action Plan or the 10 x 12 Program, contact Carol Berry at (360) 650-7979 or Seth Vidana at (360) 650-2491.