Earth Hour 2009

Saturday March 28, 2009 8:30 - 9:30PM

Earth Hour 2009 is a global event, and this year New York City is on board. WCMC joined as a business starting last year, and you can join individually. All you have to do is turn off as many lights and electrical appliances as possible for one hour Saturday March 28 from 8:30PM – 9:30PM. Watch the introductory video at YouTube and get more involved at www.earthhour.org. Sign up here at work and get a chance to win a “green gift bag.” More than one dozen gift bags will be given away! Read on to find out what you can do at home for Earth Hour and what you can do all year long to save the planet and your own money.

FOR EARTH HOUR
Saturday March 28, 2009 8:30PM - 9:30PM

Turn off as many lights as possible. Find appliances that can be shut off. And look for ways to reduce usage on as many home electronics as possible.

  • Turn off your home computers, printers, fax machines for the hour
  • Unplug coffee pots, microwaves, and any appliances that use energy in standby mode
  • Turn down your thermostat by 5 degrees for the hour
  • Turn off all lights in the house and use candles
  • Host a black out party, invite friends to play games and chat by candlelight
  • Turn off or reduce security lighting, or pathway lights to the bare minimum
  • Keep your refrigerator closed for the hour
  • Unplug extra charging cordless phones, keep only the minimum plugged in

SAVE ALL YEAR

A penny saved is a planet earned. Reducing your energy use is easy and you only need to make small changes to make a big difference. There are many websites with specific instructions to cut your annual energy costs. Below are some ideas and some links to get you started.

  • Convert to compact florescent light bulbs, and turn lights out when you leave the room. Even if you go back in 3 seconds later. It is a myth that bulbs use more energy when turned on and off. Average household can save over $100 per year.
  • Lower the thermostat 1-2 degrees in winter, and raise it by 1-2 degrees in summer. This can reduce your power consumption by more than 5%. If every household in America lowered their winter thermostats by 1 degree it would save over 200 million barrels of crude oil.
  • Wasting water wastes electricity. The greatest electricity usage in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it’s been used. Take shorter showers, just shave 2-3 minutes off. You’ll use less hot water—and water heaters account for nearly 25 percent of your home’s energy use.
  • Dry your clothes on lines indoors, or outdoors. Clothes dryers use an enormous amount of energy.

WCMC Unpower Hour

Thursday April 2, 2009 2-3PM

WCMC Unpower Hour is the official kick-off of our yearlong energy savings plan. For a second year in a row, on Thursday April 2, 2009 2-3PM, for this one hour, you and the entire WCMC community will need to switch off as many lights as possible, and find appliances and equipment that can be turned off or reduced in usage. Look below for details on what to do for the Unpower Hour and what you can do all year long to save the planet and reduce the energy costs for the medical school.

FOR THE UNPOWER HOUR
On Thursday April 2 from 2PM-3PM

Turn off as many lights as possible. Find equipment that can be shut off. And look for ways to reduce usage on as many appliances and equipment as possible.

  • Pick one copy machine to use for your area and turn all other off for one hour
  • Will you be away at a meeting for the hour? Turn off your computer monitor, and the lights in your office
  • If you have a thermostat in your office or work area turn it down by 5 degrees for the hour
  • Turn off hallway lights, and conference room lights where possible
  • Take the stairs for exercise during the hour instead of the elevator
  • If you are working at your computer from 2-3PM, turn off all or some of your office lights
  • Turn off waiting area TVs, and check lounge/kitchen areas turning off coffee pots and unplugging microwaves for the hour.

SAVING ENERGY AT WCMC ALL YEAR LONG

Power in numbers – When we conserve a little all year long, it really adds up.

  • Turning office copiers off every night saves $128/year per machine. For WCMC that’s nearly $15,000 saved every year
  • By hitting the power off button on your computer monitor each night (even if you leave the processor on) we can save about $36,000 per year that’s $36/yr per machine, based on 1,000 WCMC machines.
  • Shutting off ONE two bulb light fixture overnight and when not in use during the day saves $79 per year.
  • Lower the thermostat in your office or work area by just 1-2 degrees in winter, and raise it by 1-2 degrees in summer. This reduces WCMC power consumption by more than 5%.
  • Turn off waiting area TVs, or program them to shut off during non peak hours
  • Turn off lounge coffee pots, when not in use, consider switching to the one cup at a time models.

To get more involved in the Unpower Hour, or to help with other conservation projects email Michael Murphy, Assistant Director Facilities and Maintenance or Kristen Adams and keep checking this website as it develops all year long

Join Earth Hour 2009 at home AND make small changes to cut your home energy use and save your own money all year long.

Links for more tips on conserving energy and other green ideas.