In Control: Changing temperatures without changing climate

If you live in a dorm, you may feel like you don’t have control over the temperature in your room. You don’t have AC, your university uses centralized heating, or your roommate is Goldilocks and can’t make up his or her mind. If you do live in a dorm, you also probably don’t know that 50% of a household’s energy use comes from heating and cooling. If you live off campus and pay your own utilities, you should note as well that that energy use transfers directly to your power bill. Whether you have control over the thermostat or not, there are some additional things that you can do to reduce your energy use in this area, in all seasons (of the year and of life).

1. Hold the phone: dialing up and down

In the winter keep the thermostat at 68 degrees and lower it to between 55 and 60 degrees when you’re gone and at night time. “Lowering your thermostat just two degrees during the winter saves 6 percent of heating-related CO2 emissions.” http://www.ecomall.com/

In the summer, keep the temperature between 75 and 78 degrees when you have the AC running. You can also dial up the temperature when you’re not turning an empty room into a refrigerator.

2. Abracadabra: curtains

Curtains do more than just provide privacy; they can also help maintain a good room temperature. Buy thermal insulated curtains and keep them closed at night, especially in the winter. Then open them up during the day to let the sun do its job to warm the room. In the warmer months close curtains to cool off the room while you’re away.

3. Your biggest fan

Use an energy saving fan instead of AC. You can purchase one here if you’re interested. For those dorms without AC to begin with, this is a great investment.

4. Au natural

If it’s nice out, switch off the AC and open your windows. Just don’t open windows and have AC running at the same time. On warmer fall and spring days, turn the heat off all together, and try to wait as long as you can to turn the heat on for the winter.

5. Accessorize: Weatherize

Windows, Floorboards.

6. Let them vent

Move furniture away from vents so that they can work to their full capacity.

7. Shut it

Close doors and air vents to unused rooms. That way you’re not heating or cooling spaces that don’t need it.

Photo Source: http://www.lcra.org/newsletter/currents/nov06/energy_tips.html