The holidays are a time for us all to switch off, unwind and recharge. But while you are taking a much-needed break, don’t forget to give your electronics some downtime too. Shutting down unused devices over the festive period can help you save energy, reduce carbon emissions and save money.
With the extended closure from 21 December to January 06, we have a great opportunity to prevent energy waste around the campus and accommodation. Did you know that turning off 1,200 computer monitors for the entire 16 days, rather than leaving them on standby, could save around £2,000? This is proof that taking small actions, across a community can have a big impact.
Your Christmas shutdown checklist:
Here are a few tips to ensure your workplace/study place or home/accommodation to save energy during the break.
For work equipment:
- Turn off lights wherever you can.
- Unplug non-essential devices like PCs laptops, phone chargers, extra monitors and desk lamps (Exception: Please leave Konica Minolta printer on).
- Power down Av systems and conference equipment at the socket, if possible.
For heating and cooling:
- Shut all window and doors to help retain heat and keep buildings secure.
- Turn off any locally controlled heating systems.
In the kitchen:
- Unplug microwaves, kettles, and water coolers.
- Empty and defrost fridges and freezers if you are turning them off make sure to leave the door open to avoid odours.
Planning ahead
If your office will be mostly empty on the Friday before the holidays, why not complete your switch off checklist on Thursday? Anything essential can be switched on briefly on Friday morning and powered down again at the end of the day.
Making this a weekly habit is even better. Every Friday is a chance to power down devices that don’t need to run over the weekend. That’s 104 days of potential savings every year.
Looking forward to 2025
January offers even more opportunities to save. With campus activity lower until teaching resumes in February, we’re working on ways to cut energy use by consolidating spaces and adjusting heating schedules. These changes, developed collaboratively with Schools and Directorates, could save up to £65,000 which is enough to fund a week’s worth of food and drinks for campus dining halls.
So, this Christmas, let’s all do our part. Switch off, relax, and start 2025 with energy to spare for yourself and the planet. Every little effort helps.
Sabat Azeez, Sustainability, University of Reading
