A school, whether its grade school or a college campus, can use up a lot of energy during the day. From heating the building to inefficient lighting fixtures in the building; a school that is running 8-10 hours a day can prove to be a huge consumer of energy and thus; a high overhead to maintain.

This post is specifically for those whom work for a school or college campus that can either make the decisions, or can recommend new ideas to those who do make these types of decisions. The overall goal of this post is to bring the most actionable energy saving ideas for schools so that you can start looking into them immediately.

We are going to be covering 15 practical tips and ways that you can start saving energy in schools and become a greener, more sustainable facility overall. Here they are…

hallways, classrooms, and really anywhere with lower ceilings that are flat.

This technology is, more often than not, fluorescent. Believe it or not, this actually isn’t the most energy efficient lighting technology out there. So what is you ask?

Well, LED technology is by far the most efficient luminaire on the market today. By switching from fluorescent to LED, you will be able to realize a 30% reduction in energy usage associated with your tube lights.

As for you parking lot and sports fields, you can make the switch away from technologies like metal halide or HPS over to LED and realize every greater energy savings by up to 75%! Talk about a lot of energy being reduced.

And no, screen savers don’t save energy. But, what does save energy more-so than a screen saver is the “sleep” function that every computer has. On top of that, next time you plan on upgrading your computers, make sure you buy Energy Star qualified ones. This means they’ve passed some energy efficiency tests and are much more energy efficient than non-qualified computers are (same with your lighting system, make sure it is Energy Star or building commissioning, you get every single last area of your school inspected to ensure it is running exactly how it was designed to run. A lot of times we overlook things that are unique issues to your school, and no matter how long of a list we read on ways to conserve energy at school; we will never see everything. So our tip for you is to bring in a professional to do a full building commissioning audit, and let them tell you what is up.

Face it, a lot of classes happen during broad daylight and by not using up that free light from outside is a pure waste. By opening blinds to there fullest (when appropriate) you can reduce the amount of lights you need on by nearly half, depending on the day and time of year.

Just make sure to remind everyone to do this otherwise, you’ll never will with this tactic. Remember: you need to get the school on board or else you can only do so much.

Alternatively to just opening the blinds and windows, installing skylights into virtually any area of the building can be an even more effective way of getting the most natural light into your building. This is probably most beneficial for areas that would otherwise have no natural light whatsoever, such as hallways or interior rooms.

We’ve already brought up some points about your heating system, but here is yet another. Think about how often students are in the hallways, not nearly as much as they are in classrooms, right? So, why not make an initiative to heat the classrooms and stop heating those huge hallways that waste tons of heat to the outside from all those doors being opened.

Just make sure that everyone is closing their doors if you do decide to go this route. Likewise, you could install doors that automatically close which will prevent random doors from being forgotten about.

Although this won’t directly save your school energy, it sure does help reduce both waste and energy associated with creating new materials. The most simple way to start the promotion of recycling at school is simple; make it readily available. If you aren’t putting recycle bins next to every trash bin, most people won’t go out of there way to recycle so they will just throw it away and let it go to the landfill.

A step further would even to start investment in solar technology can be hefty, but rebates and grants are out there to make it a more affordable option that ever. On top of that, you are becoming a role model to the community by showcasing what conserving energy can do when used with solar energy technology. Let solar generate your building a positive ROI all while conversing the planets resources.

We think the list could endless of all the possible ways to save energy in school, so we must of forgot some. Be sure to comment down below your energy conservation tips that will help out school facilities become greener!

Conclusion

All of these tips are exactly how energy efficient schools are becoming more sustainable, reducing ongoing costs, and generating a positive atmosphere and educational system for students and generations to come.

Don’t let the upfront costs scare you, instead look at the bigger picture. If you have to invest money now to save 10x later, isn’t it worth it? All of these things will do just that, improve the bottom line. And not only are we doing that, but we help the environment out just a little bit too. Sounds like a win-win to us! Just remember that saving energy at school doesn’t have to be hard, just take it step by step and you will slowly see the results of your efforts build up!

Anyways, to wrap it up we’d like to invite you to share any of your own energy conservation tips for schools that you may have done or even just thought of that may benefit other schools across the globe. Share your tips in the comments below, you never know who it may help. And remember, an energy saving school is a happy school!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide Series. Last week we looked at great ideas for the custom bobble heads designed to look like the recipients are a fun gag gift that is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.

If your active grandparent hasn’t discovered the outrageously fun sport that I can only describe as a cross between tennis and ping pong, then gifting them with their own bluetooth tracking tag that hooks onto your keyring (or anything you find yourself losing often) solves the problem brilliantly. Use this little gadget to locate your phone with the push of a button. Or, locate your keys using an app on your smart phone. 

But what if your grandparent doesn’t have a smart phone or device? Get them one! My parents love to sit down with their tablet and look at photos of my children that we send them digitally. You can find tablets and e-readers for less than $100 these days.   

As we age, eyesight diminishes and adequate lighting becomes more important than ever. If your grandparent enjoys curling up with a good book, reading the morning newspaper, or knitting sweaters, a stylish night lights that match their decor or motion activated this one in the shape of a tree ring. There are a number of online resources that will help you uncover your ancestry. Once you’re finished, a battery operated Blurb.com or head down to your local drugstore to have your book made.

Do you have an epic entertainer in your family or circle of friends? Come back next week to get great ideas on holiday gifts for your favorite host or hostess.

*Prices and availability are subject to change.

Two costs are associated with any electrical appliance: the buying price, and the running cost in terms of energy and maintenance. Of the running costs, energy is one of the major items. Typically, the equipment can last several years before requiring a major repair.

Consumers should therefore not just look at the price tag on the item.  Rather, pay attention to its energy rating and available energy saving modes.

Energy star certified refrigerators and freezers are at least 9 and 10 percent more efficient respectively. Other considerations that help in saving energy include selecting the adequate capacity. In addition, the refrigerator or freezer should be kept in a cool place away from heat sources such as direct sunlight or ovens.

More energy savings can be realized by using the proper settings. In addition, ensure the door is closed all the time and that seals are in place. Place the refrigerator or freezer in a spot that allows free air circulation around the fridge; especially at the back where there are cooling pipes.

Manual defrost freezer models use less energy and are therefore more efficient than the automatic defrost models. Another important factor is the design of the freezer. An upright freezer with shelves is easier to organize. However, the chest freezer may be more energy efficient since there is less cold air escaping from the door which opens from the top.

These are usually 40 percent more efficient than the standard purifiers. Other factors to consider include the room size and placement. Select a model adequate for the room; otherwise, an oversized air purifier or cleaner will end up consuming more power unnecessarily.

Energy star certified dishwashers use at least 12 percent less energy and 15 percent less water than the conventional models. However, this may vary depending on the model and other factors.

These dishwashers utilize more efficient technologies that reduce both the energy consumption and water usage. For example, the design uses soil sensors that check the amount of dirt on the dishes.  An optimized cleaning cycle reduces the minimum amount of energy and water. In addition, there are more efficient water jets and a dish rack design that ensures efficient use of water and energy.

Energy Star dehumidifiers

Certified dehumidifiers use 15 percent less energy. They utilize more efficient compressors, refrigeration coils, and fans.

Washing machines

Energy star certified washing machines are usually 25 percent more energy efficient than their equivalent standard models. In addition, they use 40 percent less water. This results in the consumer saving water, as well as energy for both the washing machine and the water pump.

Clothes dryers

Certified dryers use at least 20 percent less energy than the standard models. The equipment utilizes more efficient technologies such as heat pumps. Moisture sensors automatically stop the drying cycle once the clothes are dry. This sensor-based drying machine is more efficient compared to thermostat or timed drying, which continues to consume energy even after clothes are dry.

Televisions qualify for energy star certification when they become at least 20 percent more efficient. Some models can reach up to 40% better efficiency than traditional models, while the set-top boxes can achieve up to 45 %. However, the amount of power used depends on the size of the TV screen, display technology, and resolution.

The home theater systems that are energy star certified are 60 percent more efficient. Certified battery chargers for small household appliances such as power tools, electric shavers, and cordless gadgets use 30 percent less energy.