At School

Students of all ages can make many changes to help reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. From elementary school through graduate school and beyond, small changes make a big difference.

Start a Recycling Program
If there isn't a recycling program in your school yet, start one. Encourage classmates to increase the amount that your school or campus recycles.

Buy Recycled Paper Products
Encourage your school to use recycled paper products in libraries and offices.

Use Timers
Installing efficiency timers and motion sensors for lights and air condititoners can substantially reduce energy use, along with lights taht automatically turn off when a room is unoccupied and automatic thermostats set to reduce energy use in the evenings and in the summer when school is not in session.

Use CFL Light Bulbs
Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescent lightbulbs, or CFLs. Each CFL bulb saves 300 pounds of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.

Energy Efficient Appliances
Make sure your school chooses energy efficient appliances when making new purchases. Energy efficient appliances have the energy star label and save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide.

Unplug "Vampire Devices"
Turn off computers, printers, scanners, televisions, and other electronics when they are not in use. When computer labs, libraries, and classrooms are empty make sure that electronics are turned off and unplug them whenever possible - even when turned off, many electronics still use energy.

No Screensavers
Screen savers will save older, non-flatscreen computer monitors, but they don't save much energy. Set computers to run in standby or power-saving mode when they are not in use... or even better, turn them off and unplug them.

Transportation
Walk, ride a bicycle, or take public transportation to class instead of driving.

Conduct an Energy Inspection
Your school can have a company perform an energy audit of the school to help find ways to be even more energy efficient.