Vacations, Energy Shut Down List

The holiday season means vacation and a break from usual routines.
For students, it means enduring exam week before packing up a suitcase and heading home for the holidays. Before you completely leave your dorm room for winter break, take a minute to do an “energy shut down” to ensure there isn’t wasted energy lingering while you are away.

• Make sure the desk computer is shut down, not just in sleep mode,
• Turn the monitor off,
• Check to see that TV’s, VCR/DVD players, computers are turned off and unplugged,
• Are other appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, alarm clocks unplugged?
• Turn the lights off,
• Lock the door. Have an enjoyable winter break and bask in the phrase “I’ll see you next year”.

For families travelling through the woods to Grandma’s house, there is a household checklist to follow as well.

• Adjust the thermostat. A recommended setting is 68 degrees but if there isn’t anyone home for a few days, you can lower a couple more degrees. Just not too cold (below 55 degrees) because you don’t want pipes to freeze. If you have a programmable thermostat you can set it on a “hold” setting and program it to a comfortable setting for when you expect to return.
• If the holiday decorations are still up, ensure the lights are on a timer and not left on for the entire duration of your trip.
• Set the water heater on “vacation” setting, or turn it down.
• Unplug the entertainment center and computer desk to save on the phantom load from all the electronics plugged in.
• Make sure the gas logs are turned off and chimney flue closed.

By following a few energy saving tips, you’ll save some green on the utility bill to help pay the holiday shopping bills.