Electronics & Other Plug-Ins

Be an Effective Communicator

If you can, try sending a text message or e-mail from a handheld device or cell phone, instead of from a desktop computer. You'll save yourself time and conserve energy.

Find Money in Your Washer and Dryer

Find some proverbial money in your pocket with these energy-efficient laundry tips:

Dry clothes only as long as necessary, instead of the whole cycle.
Hang your clothes to dry.
Remove and fold clothes immediately to avoid ironing.
Keep your lint tray clean.
Use only the recommended amount of soap (too much soap makes your washer work harder).
Use cold water.
Dry in consecutive loads, while the dryer is still warm.

Defrosting your refrigerator before it's plagued with ice can help your fridge run more efficiently. Remember to check the temperature to make sure the fridge is set between 37-40 degrees and the freezer between 0-10 degrees.

Keep Your Fridge Tidy and Save Money!

Keep your fridge tidy so that you can find what you're looking for quickly. Up to 30% of the cold air held within the fridge escapes each time you open the door, so the quicker you grab and close the door, the better.

Keep Your Kitchen Costs Down!

Try out these kitchen-friendly tips to increase energy-efficiency:

Cook with small appliances
Avoid pre-heating your oven unless it is a short baking job
Use the oven more when it is cold outside

Power Tools

Get your workout in when you are improving the home by using hand tools in place of power tools whenever possible. For those jobs that require power tools, make sure to keep your power tools in tip-top shape for efficiency.

Screen Saving Smarts

Screensavers don't save energy. Rather, the purpose of a screensaver is to protect your screen from one single image remaining imprinted upon it. Make sure to turn your computer and/or laptop off when you are finished using it.

Switch Off Properly

Televisions, DVD players and other electronic equipment can use nearly as much energy when left on standby as when they're in use. To avoid wasting energy, unplug equipment when you're not using it. To make things as easy as possible, plug multiple devices into a power strip, which you can switch on and off at once.

Your "Call To Duty"

If you are like the average college student, you likely own a gaming console.

Fun fact: Gaming consoles consume nearly as much power when they are left idle as they do when you are playing them. Remember to turn it off when you are not using it!