Did you know that educational facilities across the United States spend more than $14 billion on energy every year? With a little bit of effort and diligence, experts believe this number can be reduced by up to 20%. Here are a few ways you can get started.

Use energy-efficient electronics

An easy way to start saving energy is by investing in Energy Star-certified equipment. These products cost money up front, but can quickly pay for themselves with the energy savings they provide. For instance, an Energy Star light uses 90% less energy than an old incandescent light bulb. The Energy Star label can be found on a variety of products including computers, televisions, and appliances.

Keep an eye on your facility schedule

Even a school full of Energy Star equipment will be wasting energy if it is operating on a faulty schedule. The biggest scheduling mistake people make is operating their facility when it is vacant, including early in the morning, late at night, or on the weekends.

Routinely replace your air filters

Neglecting your HVAC system can lead to uncomfortable temperatures, frequent breakdowns, and high energy bills. The most important part of any heating and cooling system maintenance routine is changing the air filter. A dirty filter causes dust and dirt to enter the unit and cause all sorts of problems.

Get everyone involved

Want to really kick your energy savings effort into overdrive? Get everyone involved and make it a competition. See who can save the most energy over the course of a week, month, or semester. You can break the teams up into grades, dormitories, etc.

Monitor your energy consumption

Schools all over the country are turning to power monitoring equipment to help them keep track of their energy consumption. A professionally-installed system of power meters and submeters – such as those available from Electro Industries – will allow you to track your energy usage in real time. This allows you to identify areas of inefficiency, and implement procedures to correct them.

Electro Industries has been a worldwide leader in the energy management industry for more than 40 years. With hundreds of thousands of power monitoring instruments installed across the world, don’t trust anybody but us with your energy savings needs. Visit our website to learn more, or give us a call at 866-928-7908.