LIGHTING
Why do you save electricity when you switch from an incandescent to an LED lamp?
An incandescent (or the Edison-style light bulb), typically uses 60 Watts of power, while an LED bulb can use as little as 6 Watts to produce the same amount of light.
How to choose the right light bulb for you?
1. Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol, the international symbol of premium energy efficiency
2. Determine the lumens (brightness) and colour you need
3. Find the appropriate shape and usage for your application
How do you read LED light bulb packages?
Read this info-graphic that explains the information on LED lights packages.
Plus consider warranty and brand reputation when selecting LED lights as they are a bigger investment than other types of lights.
What to do with your burnt-out lights?
LightRecycle is a B.C. program keeping them out of the landfill and ensure safe recycling.
What is the return on investment for an LED lamp?
Let’s make a few assumptions: If the new LED lamp will cost $45, will have a 6 Watts light, and you use it 8 hours a day for 240 days a year, and electricity costs $0.09/kWh. Then you would pay off the investment from the new lamp in 5 years. With an expected life of 20 years, you will be saving money in years 6 through 20 from the lamp using less energy. The lamp will also save even more when the cost of electricity goes up. As a bonus you will get higher light quality.
If you have the option of upgrading your exiting lamp by changing just the bulb the payback is even shorter and is a more sustainable option as a new lamp requires materials and energy to be fabricated.
Do I need both ceiling light and a desk lamp?
It depends, the Illuminating Engineering Society came up with official light levels needed in an office; your doctor will diagnose your lighting condition. In some cases, the desk lamp is enough and in others, both desk and ceiling lamps are needed.
Why should I turn off my overhead light at the end of the day?
Just one light left on overnight is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from driving your car 15 miles! (A typical office light is two 32 W bulbs= 64 W, and overnight is 15 hours)
PLUG LOADS
What is a plug load?
Plug loads are any devices that plug into a building’s electrical system.
Why are plug loads important?
Electricity use associated with plug loads is on the rise, and plug loads in commercial buildings are now one of the fastest growing end uses of energy.
What is standby mode?
“When electronic devices are receiving power but are not running, they are in standby mode. For example, a television is in standby mode when it is plugged in, but turned off. While the TV is not “on,” it is ready to receive a signal from the remote control.” From http://www.techterms.com/definition/standby
Using a power bar and turning it off at the end of the day is a way to stop wasting energy on standby mode.
Does a power bar use electricity?
The power bar itself doesn’t use any electricity, except a fraction of a watt to power the light on the switch. When switched off, the power bar stops an appliance form drawing electricity, whether it’s on or on standby mode.
COMPUTERS
Can I turn off my computer every day?
Yes! Turning off your computer every night saves energy and does not affect the lifespan of your computer.
The computer takes too long to reboot every day, what can I do?
For many people, turning on their computer in the morning can take a good 5 minutes. What to do during that time? Bring your lunch to the fridge in the lunch area, make your tea/coffee, say hello to the receptionist, do a set of office stretches for your neck and hands, make a must-do list for the day on paper, or take a moment to clean up your desk. There are many ways to be productive without having the computer running the moment you step into your office.
Why should I turn off my monitor, it goes to sleep anyway?
When the monitor is ‘asleep’ it still uses a small amount of power, often in the range of 3 watts. Over the course of a year, if you left your monitor on standby all night, every night, the monitor would consume 15 kWh, to produce that same amount of electricity you would need to burn 12 pounds of coal!
Is my computer really using less power when hibernating?
When a computer goes into hibernation the power consumption is reduced by 97%, and the combined effect of all of BCIT’s computers can be huge. For example, a study performed a few years ago estimated that by implementing power management in BCIT’s lab computers, 700,000 kWh in energy reduction can be achieved. This amount of energy can power 77 homes in the lower mainland. At $0.09/kWh, that is more $60,000 per year.
BLINDS & HEATING
When should I close the blinds?
Using the blinds can keep the temperature more constant at your workstation and prevent the heating or cooling from coming on. On a hot and sunny day, close the blinds to prevent the space from getting too hot. On a cold and sunny day, open the blinds to let the sun warm up the space. In the winter, you can also close your blinds at the end of the day to keep the heat in overnight.
Learn more about heating in https://www.bcit.ca/heatsavers/faq.shtml