Switch off to save

Staff and students are being asked to share the University’s energy vision with the relaunch of its Switch & Save campaign.

The campaign encourages the development of good housekeeping practice to minimise energy consumption.

Cuts that count

The Switch & Save message addresses the University target of a 29 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.

Since the campaign was launched in 2006 many staff have embraced its ethos by striving to make energy cuts in their own workspaces.

Since January this year, users of Charteris Land have worked with staff from the Sustainability Office to investigate ways to reduce their energy consumption.

Through identifying actions, such as developing an end-of-day switch-off checklist, the team achieved a 10 per cent reduction in electricity consumption.

Simple steps

All staff can take simple steps to help the University meet its energy goals. These include:

• turning off computer equipment at night and at the weekends;
• switching off lights in unused rooms;
• checking printer settings to ensure they default to sleep mode during inactive periods.

Free chocolate bars

The campaign relaunch will be celebrated with a Fair Trade chocolate giveaway.

Free chocolate bars will be handed out with every hot drink bought at a EUSA or Accommodation Services outlet on 20 September.