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Fall 2005, Vol. 1, No. 4 | Back Issues
Rich Cutler to Everyone: “Turn off the Lights!”
With predictions that heat and electricity will increase as much as 26 percent this winter, consumers and businesses alike are bracing for a jaw-dropping hit to their checkbooks.
In years past, the MBL worked with the utilities and made upgrades to lighting fixtures and windows to save as much energy as possible through easy-to-implement, reasonably priced measures. There are also several energy-saving capital improvements on the docket for 2006, such as installing motion detectors, upgrading thermostats, and upgrading electric motors.
Fortunately, the simplest energy-saving measures cost nothing more than plain-old common sense on the part of everyone who works here.
“Think of the MBL as your own personal house, except that it’s much bigger,” says Rich Cutler, MBL Director of Facilities. “I don’t know how people operate at home, but I try to keep unused lights off. It seems some people forget simple strategies like that when they are here.”
Because the MBL is much bigger than any home, forgetting simple conservation measures at the individual level is tremendously expensive, not only for the environment, but also for the MBL’s bottom line.
“Our energy costs are now over $1,000,000, so it is easy to see what the expected increases will do to our operating budgets,” says Rich. “We must reduce energy use wherever possible.”
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So, courtesy of Rich, here are four simple things you can do at work to save energy and the MBL budget:
1. If you’re not going to be in your office for more than 20 minutes, shut off your lights. It’s a good practice, especially because you often leave thinking you’ll be back more quickly than you actually will.
2. Wear a sweater. You won’t be tempted to turn up the heat if you’re wearing warm clothes.
3. Shut off equipment, including computers and lab machinery, when it’s not in use.
4. If you see something that doesn’t seem to be functioning properly, please report it to Plant Operations and Maintenance, x7776 so they can repair it.
Need strategies for saving energy and money at home? Aside from some of the suggestions above, try these:
1. Lock in a low rate for your heating source. If you have oil and live in the Falmouth area, contact Self-Reliance, toll-free: (888) 808-0120 or (508) 457-7679, <www.reliance.org/>
2. Stay informed about current energy prices by visiting the Massachusetts Division of Energy, <www.mass.gov/doer/home.htm>
3. Purchase a programmable device called a setback thermostat. The device is fairly easy to install and enables users to program the heat for low settings at times it isn’t needed and higher settings during times when it is.
4. Find the cheapest gas station near you by using these helpful websites:
AAA: <www.aaa.com>
GasPriceWatch.com: <www.gaspricewatch. com/new/default.asp>
5. The /Cape Light Compact Green/ program allows Cape Light Compact customers to purchase cleaner, healthier electricity as part of their regular electric bill. All electricity is generated from 100% renewable energy resources located right here in New England. <www.capelightcompact.org> |
The New Collecting Net is an employee newsletter published by the Communications Office. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Call (508) 289-7423 or e-mail us at
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