A number of measures, both large and small, may be included in your plans to improve energy efficiency on campus. Here's a sample of ideas to discuss:

• Improving lighting efficiency (by using compact fluorescent bulbs, reflectors, efficient ballasts, and room-occupancy sensors, for example). Although compact fluorescent lighting is more expensive than incandescent, the cost will pay off through the savings in energy.
  
• Incorporating passive solar building design and energy efficiency into future building plans, such as the use of "day lighting," a means of maximizing the use of natural light in the design of a building. In addition, planners may be encourage to incorporate safe and renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, cogeneration, wind, and fuel cells into campus energy plans.
  
• Increasing the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Look at heating and cooling season temperature policies ( a change by only a few degrees can create tremendous savings). Report overheating and overcooling of buildings to the physical plant manager.
  
• Tightening "building envelopes" through improved insulation, more efficient windowpanes, and weather-stripping.
  
• Developing a computerized energy management system to automatically regulate heating and cooling and maintain constant temperatures.
  
• Increasing the efficiency of building scheduling for evening, weekends, and holidays, so that heating, cooling, and lighting are needed in a minimum number of areas.
  
• Encouraging students, faculty, and staff to use alternative transportation to campus, including bicycling, walking, and public transportation.
  
• Promoting campus community awareness and encouraging participation in energy-conservation programs. Place "Turn off Light" stickers above switches. Establish competitions between residence halls to promote efficiency.
  
• Planting trees strategically to improve the natural cooling of buildings in summer and provide windbreaks in winter.