Conservation Tips

GW supports and encourages the following practices to reduce energy and water usage in Residence Halls:

Electricity Conservation:

• In the Kitchen:
• Match the size of the pan to the heating element.  Using a 6 inch pan on an 8 inch burner wastes more than 40% of the burner's heat. (Source: Dominion)
• Use a slightly curved cooking pan, which distributes heat more evenly than a flat bottomed pan.  Copper bottomed pans heat faster than conventional cookware. (Source: Dominion)
• Turn your refrigerator temperature down (while retaining a healthy level). Most refrigerators are set at a temperature that is unnecessarily cold, resulting in accidentally almost-frozen food.
  
• Keep the cooling coil on the back of your refrigerator free of dust to allow it to operate more efficiently.
• Lighting:
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of incandescent light bulbs.  CFLs can use up to 70% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb.
  
• During the daytime, use natural lighting when possible - open your blinds to brighten up the room. During the night, close your blinds or curtains to keep heat in your room.
• Shut the lights when you're not using them - especially in places like closets and hallways where you only need the light momentarily.
  
• Appliances:
• Turn off your computer, lights, stereo, TV and other appliances when not in use.
• Unplug adapters (like your cell phone charger and MP3 player) when not in use, as the charger will use energy 24/7 even when your item is not charging.
• Use a power strip for items (like an entertainment system) and turn the power strip off when it is not in use.
• Save energy by enabling your computer's energy-saving features. Always turn your computer off if you will not be using it within the next hour.
• Consider energy-efficient computer systems and monitors when you replace a system. Flat-screen monitors use 50-70% less energy.
• Buy ENERGY STAR®-qualified products.
• In the Laundry Room:
• Consider using a clothing rack or hangers to air-dry your laundry inside your residence hall instead of using the dryer. This will help your clothing last longer and the extra humidity from the drying clothes can also make your room feel warmer!
• Heating and Air Conditioning:
  
• Set the AC and heat to reasonable temperatures.  Better yet, turn them off!

Water Conservation:

• In the Kitchen:
• Fill the dishwasher before running it.  Running machines half full uses as much water as a full load.
• In the Laundry Room:
• Use cold water for the wash cycle (instead of hot) when you do your laundry, and always rinse in cold water. Colder water also ensures your fabric colors will not run!
• Fill the washing machine before running it.  Running machines half full uses as much water as a full load.
• In the Bathroom:
• Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth.  Water that runs straight to the drain is 100% waste.
• Take shorter showers and don't leave the water running when you're not using it.
• Report leaks through Fix-IT!

In 2004 GW partnered with Caldwell and Gregory to undertake measures to conserve energy and water in the residence halls with an initiative by investing in Maytag Energy Star-rated front load washers that save up to 18 gallons of water per cycle over the old top load washers. It is estimated that GW is now saving approximately 4.6 million gallons of water annually. These machines extract much more water than typical top load washers, meaning that clothes will dry in a shorter period of time, saving gas (if applicable) and electricity.

The Maytag Energy Star-rated front load washers use 35% less detergent with the recommendation to use HE (high efficient) types of detergent, which all the major detergent brands offer. Students are encouraged to use HE detergents.