Eastern Illinois University Sustainability - What You Can Do -- Reduce Energy Consumption

Reducing Our Energy Consumption

Electricity production is our nation’s leading cause of industrial air pollution and responsible for nearly half of the country’s carbon emissions contributing to global climate change. Eastern Illinois University students and personnel have reduced energy consumption by 26 percent, but we still have a lot of room for improvement.

Tips for Your Residence/Dorm/Office

• Thirty-four percent of electricity use in the U.S. comes from lighting, and you could cut back that usage if you switch your personal incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. CFLs produce the same amount of light and last up to 10 times longer — all while using one-third of the electricity.
  • In areas generating electricity from coal, every fluorescent bulb in use can prevent 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and 20 pounds of sulfur dioxide from entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Use your microwave rather than your stove for warming up/defrosting small portions of food. Microwave ovens use around half the energy of a conventional oven.
• Many of your household/office electronics and appliances can be unplugged when not in use, because items like televisions, DVD/CD players, cordless phones, and microwaves are still using electricity as they sit idle. Another options is to invest in a power strip that automatically shuts off power to devices that are not in use.
• Use natural light instead of turning the lights on.

Statistics on this page based on studies conducted by Worldwatch Institute (2007), Environmental Protection Agency (2008), and Eastern Illinois University.