University, city officials stress energy saving techniques

ving the heat turned up in the winter are conveniences most people might not consider potentially wasteful.\nThe University, with its numerous buildings and research facilities, use a lot of energy. Research buildings such as Jordan Hall and the Chemistry Building have equipment turned on all the time and use the most energy of the buildings on campus, Assistant Director of Utilities Mark Menefee said. \nLast year, IU had a utility bill of $22 million. In electricity alone, the cost was $12 million, a 96 percent increase from five years ago, Menefee said. \nStudents and professors can help reduce IU's utility bill by, for example, turning off lights in lecture halls after class. Appliances like computers and televisions should also be turned off when not in use. If turning off computers is a problem, the sleep function can save the energy of running the monitor.\nOther small things can be done to lower IU's energy consumption. Cell phone chargers draw energy even when not charging a phone. Although these appliances don't draw much power while off, the energy consumption can become large when thousands of people leave them plugged in. To reduce small draws on power, a power strip, which can be turned off when it is not in use, could be used with computers and other appliances.\nStudents who live in apartments or houses have a larger incentive to save energy because, unlike students in dorms, they have to foot the bill for excess energy use. These students can save money by being mindful of the energy consumption of appliances like an air conditioner -- a must-have for many students. Changing the thermostat by a few degrees can make a big difference, as less energy will be needed and in the long run will save money. \n"In the summertime, have your thermostat set at 76 degrees instead of 74. You can still be comfortable," Bloomington assistant director of economic development Danise Alano said. \nSophomore Maria Murphy said she tries to conserve her resources when she can as a way to battle high prices on her utility bills. \n"We make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded before we start it," Murphy said. \nStudents can also conserve energy by purchasing lower-watt light bulbs. Most times, a 40-watt bulb can give as much light as needed. Also, despite being a little more expensive, compact fluorescent bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.\nThough higher cost is one consequence of wasting energy, it's not the only one. Oil, natural gas and coal are resources that can't be replaced once they're gone. Burning fossil fuels also place a greater burden on the environment to absorb, causing greenhouse gas emissions. \nIU burns almost 100 percent coal during the year, though it will switch to natural gas if the consumption of energy reaches a height the coal can't sustain. While natural gas is more environmentally friendly, it costs almost ten times as much as coal, Menefee said. Discontinuing the use of coal could increase the utility costs of the University by as much as $12 million, he added. \nTo learn more about how to save energy and money, the Bloomington Commission on Sustainability and city's environmental commission are holding public forums at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at in the City Council Chambers at Showers Plaza.