Energy Saving Tips For School

In Turkey today, 55 percent of our schools are more than 30 years old. Most of them need to be modernized and upgraded to bring them up to minimum basic standards. School buildings are first among goverment buildings taking consideration of using energy.That is why our goverment has been carrying on activities and legislation on saving energy in schools. Included in the legislation was a provision to encourage all new schools to be even more efficient than energy efficiency building standards. The investment would be money well spent. In addition to improving the learning environment, school districts could avoid wasting money in unnecessary energy costs.

Turkish schools spend - nearly three percent of their total budget - on energy. That's about the same amount schools spend on books and supplies each year! By employing energy efficiency in our schools, we could cut our energy bills by 20 percent to 40 percent, leaving money for other educational priorities

I NFORMATION FOR S TUDENTS Students and teachers can do a lot to help save energy in schools. Energy-saving things we do at home can also be done at schools.

R AISE AWARENESS Display posters and stickers Engage the students to turn off lights and computer equipment – could you appoint energy monitors?

T URN O UT THE L IGHTS Lighting is one of the largest users of energy in the classroom. By turning out the lights when a classroom is unoccupied, the school can save money. The school may also want to consider "occupancy sensors "that detected whether there are people in the room. If no one is there, the switch turns off the light.

Turn off your computer before leaving for the night and weekend Do not leave printers idle, turn them off when not in use Turn off your computer monitor when you are not at your desk- saves more energy than a screen saver Make sure the power management features of your computer, printers and copiers are activated

Conserve by printing only what you really need Use electronic communications as much as possible Minimize personal appliances in classrooms and offices; use staff lounge Turn off and unplug all appliances when not in use

H EATING AND C OOLING Adjust time settings to ensure heating matches occupancy patterns. Do not over heat; recommended temperature is 19 – 20°C. Ensure the property has sufficient insulation. Ensure pipes and cylinders are adequately insulated.

C LOSE THE D OORS Leaving doors wide open to a room or building may make it more inviting to come in, but it wastes energy. Don't prop doors open but allow them to close after people walk through the doorway.

R EUSE AND R ECYCLE Reusing paper and recycling paper saves money and energy. Recycle aluminum cans and plastic bottles.