Saving money — and our planet — by saving energy
VCU encourages wise use of energy and natural resourcesOne of the most important ways in which we can all help the university through this difficult financial time is by paying attention to how we use our energy and natural resources while we are on campus, including in our offices, shared space and residence halls.
Please:
- Turn off lights when you leave a room or when a public space — like a conference room or lounge — is not in use.
- Unplug electronics, including laptops and cellphone chargers, when you are not using them.
- When possible, take stairs instead of the elevator, and do not use automated doors unless you need them.
- To minimize wasted water, please report leaks, drips and running water as soon as you see them. Drink from personal water bottles, instead of plastic bottles, whenever possible.
- Set your computer for an energy-saving “sleep mode” and turn off your monitor when you are away from your desk for an extended period.
- Print only those pages that you need and print on both sides of the page.
Visit the VCU goes green website for more tips on saving money and saving our planet’s resources.
Last year, VCU entered into a partnership with Dominion Resources that reduces our energy costs by about 4 percent annually. However, energy consumption remains a substantial line in our annual budget — about $22 million. That will only increase as we continue to open the new buildings that we need to engage in our mission as a national research university. I have committed that every new building at VCU will be LEED-certified, and it is our goal that VCU will be carbon neutral by 2050.
Categories Uncategorized