UR Sustainable Pledge Impacts

Conserve Energy

Shut down computers at night.

Shutting down your computer at night can save the University money and prevent the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Half of all American office workers who use a computer do not shut it down at the end of the day, wasting $2.8 billion and 20 tons of CO₂ per year.

Put on an extra layer before turning up the heat.

You can save up to 1% on your electricity bills for every degree you set the temperature back.

Unplug chargers to reduce the phantom energy demand.

Chargers for cell phones, digital cameras, televisions, laptops, and video game consoles can draw power whenever they are plugged into an outlet, even if they are turned off.

Turn off the lights when you leave the room.

With fluorescent lights, if you will be out of the room for 15 minutes or more, turn them off. This action will help lengthen the life of the bulb.

Switch to Compact Fluorescent light bulbs rather than incandescent.

Compact Fluorescent (CFLs) use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.

Use the stairs instead of the elevator when possible.

By taking two flights of stairs every day, instead of using the elevator you will save energy and improve your health.

Enjoy one vegetarian meal a week.

Eating one vegetarian meal a week can conserve water and prevent greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, livestock produces about 80 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year.

Use Green Transportation

Walk or bike around campus rather than drive.

Try out the Green Bikes, enjoy a walk with a friend or colleague, reduce emissions, and get some exercise.

Use the University shuttles or carpool rather than driving alone when feasible.

Conserve Water

Wait to wash laundry until I have a full load.

Save water and electricity by waiting until you have a full load, and save more electricity by hanging clothes to dry.

Drink tap water instead of buying bottled water.

Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste each year. That plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.

Take shorter showers.

If every student on campus cut a minute off their shower time we would save approximately 600,000 gallons of water each semester.

Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or washing face.

You can save up to 8 gallons per day by turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime.

Reduce Waste

Learn what can be recycled on campus and teach another person.

Go trayless in the Heilman Dining Center.

In a waste survey conducted by D-Hall’s management last year, six Trayless Fridays saved an average of 136 pounds of waste from going to the landfill

Use a Lug-a-Mug when dining on campus.

Each new cup you get from Tyler’s Grill or 8:15 has an environmental impact through the manufacturing process, through transportation and storage, and during its disposal. Lug-a-Mugs can be purchased at the Heilman Center. Dining Services provides a list of sustainable choices available on campus.

Buy recycled products.

Many recycled products take less energy to create than their non-recycled counterparts, plus recycled products keep waste out of landfills.

Print less.

The University buys more than 56,000 pounds of paper each year. Help reduce this number by printing only when necessary.