There are many ways to live a sustainable and environmentally-friendly life. Here are some strategies focused on conserving energy and water resources.

Turn off the lights

Turn off the lights when you leave any room and use natural daylight instead of lights when possible. In addition, switch to LEDs in your light fixtures. LEDs are much more energy efficient than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and last longer. If you own your home, check with your utility company to see if they offer incentives to buy LEDs. 

Unplug electronics

Unplug electronic items that aren't in use. Items that are plugged in but not in use are still generating a charge and wasting energy. A smart power strip, which automatically powers down items not in use, can be a set-it-and-forget-it solution.

Use window treatments

In the summer, keep blinds and curtains closed as the sun can warm up your room, causing your air conditioner to work harder. In the winter, open window treatments to let the sun in to warm you up instead of using heaters.

Mind your AC and heating

Heating and cooling can account for up to 50% of energy use in a typical residential home. Consider using fans instead of air conditioning as fans use significantly less energy and can still keep you cool in warm weather. In addition, when no one is at home or at night, consider raising your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer or lowering it to 58 degrees in the winter.

Take shorter showers

Try taking a shorter shower every day. An average shower uses about 5 gallons of water per minute so shortening your shower by 2 minutes per day will cut your water use by 10 gallons.

Turn off the tap

Turn off the tap when you aren't actively using water, such as between wetting your toothbrush and rinsing your mouth or while you shave.

Fix leaks

Small leaks - a dripping faucet or shower - can add up to gallons of water wasted every day. Of all the water used in a home in a day, an average of 12% is wasted by leaking. Save the water and your money by fixing leaks as soon as you spot them! On campus, report any leaks by submitting a Facilities Request.

Wash clothes in cold water

Did you know that most clothes can be washed in cold water? Nearly 90% of the energy consumed in washing clothes is used for heating, so washing clothes in cold water is an easy way to save.

Consider efficient appliances

If you own your home, consider installing smart thermostats which allow you to program temperature schedules for when you are at home or away; purchasing ENERGY STAR products, which range from laptops to televisions to refrigerators, and are rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being energy efficient; and purchasing WaterSense labeled products such as faucets, showerheads, and toilets that can save money and water. Also make sure to run dishwashers only when they are full and turn down your water heater to 120 degrees to generate significant savings.

Request an energy audit

If you own your home, consider requesting an energy audit to investigate energy-saving opportunities in lighting, heating and cooling, and air-sealing. Often, these audits are conducted by a professional. Many local governments or utility companies offer these services for free.