Power Down Before You Go: Tips for 2019 Winter Energy Setback

Campus Sustainability Office December 6, 2019
Building & Energy
Staff & Faculty
Students
Snowy footprints leading to Baker Tower

Letter from Rick Burgess, Vice President, Facilities & Campus Services

2019 Setback Dates: December 25th  2019 –January 1st 2020

Dear Cornell Staff and Faculty,

Before you leave campus for a much-deserved winter break, please join your colleagues in “powering down” your offices, labs, and common areas –your hard-working electronics need a vacation too! Each year, your participation in Cornell’s Winter Energy Shutdown avoids powering unused electronics, heating unoccupied buildings, and lighting empty offices. This collective action saves a huge amount of energy on campus, minimizes the use of natural resources, and reduces our university’s carbon emissions –critical steps towards our carbon neutral campus goal by 2035.

As you prepare to leave, please take the following key actions in spaces you occupy:

  • Turn off power strips and unplug any electronics plugged directly into the wall
    Many devices use electricity even when “turned off,” including TVs, printers, chargers, copiers, coffee makers, microwaves, lamps, space heaters, etc.

  • Switch off all lights
  • Shut all windows & shades
  • Close all interior and exterior doors
  • Set your thermostat to 65F, if easily adjustable
    Do not turn your heat all the way off, we need to avoid freezing pipes
  • Completely close fume hood sashes in labs
    Fume hoods are responsible for 50% of building energy use on campus!
  • Report facilities issues like leaky faucets, running toilets, overly hot or cold rooms
  • Remind colleagues and students to take these actions before they leave too
  • Questions? Please contact: fcsrequests@cornell.edu

Your actions make a difference! Last year, we saved 1.08 million kWh of electricity during the weeklong shutdown, equivalent to eliminating 91 homes’ energy use for one year, growing 12,600 trees, switching 29,000 light bulbs to LEDs, or charging 97,300,000 smartphones. The impact is huge! Learn more about campus sustainability at sustainablecampus.cornell.edu and sign-up for the Sustainable Campus listserv to hear this year’s Winter Energy Shutdown results.

Thank you for your continued efforts to save energy, reduce carbon emissions, and adopt sustainable practices.

Have an enjoyable and restorative winter break.

Rick Burgess, Vice President, Facilities & Campus Services
Cornell University