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Shut down computers or use the “sleep” setting when not in use. Check to see if electronics and appliances are plugged into surge strips. Talk to the administration about meeting Energy Star standards. Find out if your school’s vending machines are energy efficient.

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Your school’s computer lab, or even the AV equipment in a “smart” classroom, can be a huge source of wasted energy. However, you can make a big difference by checking the settings on the computers and doing a few simple things when the computers are not in use. Some things you can do include:   Turning off screens and monitors when you’re done using them. Checking to see if computers are set to “sleep” when not in use. Making sure that computers shut down completely at the end of the day. If you’re a student, talk to your teachers about putting rules in place about turning off electronics when they aren’t in use. Using surge strips for electronics and other appliances can also help your school to save energy. Check to see if these are already in use. If not, ask if you can get some for your classroom. If you are a student, try saying something like, “Surge strips can save energy because they make it easy to switch the power off and on for multiple electronic items. Would it be possible to get some for our classroom?” Your school can save up to 50% on its energy costs by using Energy Star electronics and appliances. If your school has plans to purchase new electronics or other appliances, then request that they purchase Energy Star items.  If you are a student, then you might ask your teacher if this is something the school already does. Do a little research on how much your school can save by using Energy Star appliances, and write up a report to present to your teacher or the administration. If you are a teacher, then you could talk with your school’s principal about it. You can find out more about the Energy Star program here: https://www.energystar.gov/. Vending machines have a compressor that runs constantly to keep beverages cold all of the time. However, your school’s vending company may have controllers that will allow you to shut off the compressor when the machines are not needed, such as when school is out for the weekend or during breaks. If you are a student, you could talk to your teacher or school principal about this idea. Try saying something like, “Can we get a compressor remote to turn off the vending machines and save energy when school is not in session?”