Conservation Tips

If you see energy or water waste on campus, please submit an on-line work order request. At (TMA work order request) or call 351-2446 from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Electricity:

  • Buy Energy Star appliances
  • Replace burnt out incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs
  • Use natural light during the daytime and task lighting at night
  • Don’t leave the TV on when no one is watching it and turn off the lights when you leave a room
  • Use a power strip to turn off vampire devices that use electricity even when they’re “off” like TVs, computers and game consoles
  • Cook in the microwave instead of heating up the oven, and your house
  • Use fans instead of turning on the heater or air conditioner
  • Use cold-water or HE laundry detergent and the cold water setting on your washing machine

Water:

  • Take shorter showers; 5 minutes is best
  • Wash your dishes by hand and don’t leave the water to run while rinsing
  • Wait to do laundry until you have a full load or grab some of your roommates’ to top it off
  • Use rinse water to water plants

Material Resources:

  • Recycle paper, plastics, glass and cardboard
  • Buy products with recycled content
  • Use biodegradable cleaners and detergents
  • Reuse plastic items instead of throwing them away after one use
  • Have all your bills sent as e-bills and pay them on-line
  • Buy products in bulk or in packages that have reduced packaging
  • Make double sided copies and use the clean back side of waste paper

Natural Gas:

  • In summer, let the cool night air in and only use your air conditioner during the day; also close your curtains during the hottest times to insulate against heat-gain
  • In winter, open your curtains during the day to let the sun warm your room and close them at night
  • Keep your room between 68-70 degrees in the winter and 74-78 degrees for air-conditioned spaces in the summer when the space is occupied

Good for you and the environment:

  • Skip a half hour of TV and go for a walk to Glennmere Park
  • Walk to the grocery store instead of driving
  • Take the stairs instead of using the elevator
  • Bring your water in a reusable water bottle instead of buying it from a vending machine
  • Pack you lunch or a snack in reusable containers instead of buying it from a vending machine
  • Shop at clearance stores and food pantries for damaged-but-still-good food
  • Shop at Goodwill, ARC and Salvation Army for used-but-good appliances, house wares and clothes
  • Plan a meal a week with organic, locally farmed or vegetarian food