The hustle and bustle of the holidays requires a lot of energy! But while you’re amped-up getting everything done, let’s make sure the College’s electronic equipment and appliances are getting a much needed energy break.

Red River College is closed from December 21 to January 2. During this time the College’s major building systems will run in “Un-Occupied Mode”, which means lower temperatures and, in most cases, minimal ventilation.  This will help reduce our energy consumption, and our environmental footprint. But you can help too! By participating in the Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge your actions can help to achieve higher energy savings. Plus… by participating you could win a catered coffee break for your office.

Shutting down for the holidays is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. DISPOSE OF PERISHABLES

Remove perishables and clean fridges by December 20, 2018

2. TURN OFF ELECTRONICS & UNPLUG APPLIANCES NOT IN USE

Where it is safe and possible to do so. Please leave printers ON, they’ll go into energy saving mode on their own.

3. TURN OFF LIGHTS

Take the Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge and Win!

Before you dash away into the night this holiday, recruit your colleagues to participate in the Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge. All you have to do is complete and submit our simple checklist to shutdown unnecessary lights and equipment before you leave for the break and you will be entered to win 1 of 3 catered coffee breaks for your office!

Access the Checklist Here

• What is an office? An office can be one person or multiple people in one office space, or across many offices, as long as you are in the same department. You can even challenge other offices within your department to participate as well. Please have just one person per office complete the checklist.
• When can I fill in the form? You can submit the form before December 21 as a pledge to do these actions. Anyone who submits a form before December 21 will receive a reminder email on December 21. You can also fill out the form anytime between December 21 and noon on January 2, 2019.
• Having trouble with the form? Contact Whitney for help.
• The more, the merrier! Recruit participants and help conserve energy at the College by printing and posting this poster in an office common area.

SMALL ACTIONS CAN HAVE BIG IMPACTS

You might think that the few items in your office aren’t going to make much of a difference if they’re shutdown or unplugged for 11 days, but consider this: our office recently led a College-wide plug load inventory and in the more than 500 staff offices and common areas we entered we counted nearly 3,000 personal electronic items (i.e. computers, monitors, speakers, etc.), almost 600 personal appliances (refrigerators, microwaves, etc.), and over 450 lightswitches. That’s a lot of potential for unnecessary energy consumption, either through leaving items and lights on, or through standby (phantom) power that many electronic items draw even when turned off.

MORE SHUTDOWN TIPS

• Lab equipment: Together with your colleagues identify equipment that can be safely turned off, unplugged, or placed in standby mode over the break.
• Don’t forget to turn off lights and shutdown projectors and AV equipment in any meeting rooms or classrooms that you use.
• Do a department walk-through to ensure valuables are secured and cabinets are locked.
• Activate alarms if applicable before you leave.
• Set yourself a reminder in your calendar or on your phone (or even on a sticky note on the door) to remember to do your seasonal shutdown checklist before you leave.
• Set yourself a reminder for when you return from holidays to plug needed items in or turn them on.
• Don’t forget to water plants and feed and water vermicomposting worms!

The Seasonal Shutdown Office Challenge is part of the Sustainability Office’s Resource Reduction Project. To find out more about the Plug Load Inventory, including some of the results and what we’re planning to do next, check out the archived version of our lunch and learn presentation from November 27, 2018.