The University of Massachusetts Amherst over the last few years has made a concerted effort to upgrade utility systems to make them more energy efficient.

Due to the importance of energy conservation to the University, renovations to lighting and plumbing have been made in the residence halls. Specifically, the lighting and lighting controls were upgraded and there was an installation of low flow toilets and energy efficient showerheads in the bathrooms across campus.

Steam and electric distribution improvements have taken place as well. As part of this project, meters have been installed in the residence halls that will monitor the minute by minute usage of electricity, water, and steam in each building.

We are counting on you , as a resident here, to make your contribution to our efforts to conserve energy.

Earth First Quiz

See how environmentally friendly you are. Answer the following questions truthfully:

Do I….
______ Forget to shut lights off when I leave
______ Leave the water running while I brush my teeth or shave
______ Take long and frequent hot showers
______ Use hot water when I really do not need to
______ Forget to close my window
______ Forget to shut my shade at night to conserve heat
______ Leave my computer on when I am not going to be using it for more than 15 minutes
______ Turn my printer on even though I will not be printing right away
______ Use my computer on and off all day when I could have done it in one shorter sitting
______ Keep the TV on even though I am really not watching it
______ Wash my clothes with less than a full load

Scoring for the Earth First Quiz!
1 – 2 = Thank You for caring! You are energy conscious
3 – 5 = Be careful! You are bordering on being wasteful
6+ = You must do better! You are wasting money and energy

Why Conserve Energy?

The simplest energy conservation measures can save the University millions of dollars in costs annually. But, energy conservation does more than just save money; it reduces damage to the environment and helps minimize social costs.

Just to get a feel for how important energy conservation is, here are a few of the social costs attributed to energy consumption: diminishing wilderness areas due to oil and gas exploration, our growing dependence on foreign oil and the risk of conflict over shrinking energy resources. Remember, conservation reduces air and water pollution, acid rain, and global warming.

Just to get an idea of the amount of money the University would save, check out these facts:

• 4.6 million dollars a year goes to water and electrical utilities – 13% of your housing bill pays for the 420 dollars of utilities you use.
• If each student uses two 60 watt light bulbs at .12 cents an hour, the University pays out $134.40/hour just to turn on the lights.
• If 50% of the students at UMass use a hair dryer for 10 minutes a day, it would cost the University $11,200/day.
• If 75% of UMass students leave their computer on for 12 hours straight, it costs $4,032/day.
• If 117 laundry dryers are used for 5 hours a day, it would cost $234/day.
• If all 11,200 students take a 15 minute shower every day, it costs the University $13,440/day.
• Imagine how much money the University would save if every student tried to curb his or her utility consumption by even just 25%!

Energy Conservation Facts

The United States comprises 5% of the world's population, yet we produce 25% of all greenhouse gases. Electricity production is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases. In Massachusetts, the fuel mix for electricity production is:
37% Oil
31% Coal
22% Nuclear
7% Natural Gas
1% Other

Energy Conservation Tips
• Last one out, turn off the lights
• Buy Energy Star appliances, computers, and electronic devices
• Do not turn on electronic devices until you are ready to use them
• Turn off computers and all accessories when not in use
• Recycle because it costs lots of energy to make new paper, plastic and aluminum
• During heating season, be sure your window is securely closed and locked
• At night, pull your shade down and conserve heat
• During the day, put your shade up and gain natural light
• When your room gets too hot, let us know iService
• Keep the laundry room door propped open when dryer is in use

Water Conservation Facts

Daily indoor water usage in the typical single family home is about 70 gallons. Here is how it breaks down:
Use Gallons per % of total daily use
Toilets 18.5 26.7
Clothes Washers 15.0 21.7
Showers 11.6 16.8
Faucets 10.9 15.7
Leaks 9.5 13.7
Other uses 3.8 5.3

Water Conservation Tips
• Take brief showers – a shower uses 1.6 gallons per minute
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your dishes – only run it when you are actually using it
• Rinse your razor in the sink instead of under running water
• Only wash your clothes when you have a full load
• Report constantly running toilets or dripping faucets to iService
• Report any leaking plumbing fixture (toilet, sink, pipes, etc.) to iService

Computer Conservation Tips

Personal computers account for approximately 1.5% of all energy consumption. One computer left on 24 hours a day uses between $65 and $115 annually and dumps 850-1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. Here are a few things you can do to help conserve energy:

• Turn your computer off at night or when you are away
• If the computer is going to be inactive for greater than 15 minutes, consider shutting it down. After this time, the energy needed to run the computer is greater than the energy needed for start-up
• Do not turn the printer on until you are ready to use it
• Most computer equipment now comes with power management features (Energy Star), please use them
• Despite the name, screen savers do not save anything, so turn off your monitor when not in use. Flashing images actually consume as much energy as during active use