Saving Energy

Saving energy and reducing consumption is easier than you think. Consider the simple steps below to lower energy costs and emissions.

Types of Light Bulbs

Insure all your light bulbs are compact fluorescent or LED's and not incandescent or tungsten light bulbs. Incandescent light bulbs are notoriously inefficient sources of lighting. Approximately 95 percent of the bulb's energy is lost in the form of heat, which can also increase the cooling load of the air conditioning. Additionally, incandescent bulbs consume approximately 2/3 more energy than a comparable compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). Finally, incandescent bulbs do not have a very long life span; a standard incandescent has an average life of 1,000 hours whereas a CFL has a life of 10,000 hours.

Standby consumes electricity

Completely turn off all electronic devices when not in use. Consumer electronics are a considerable drain on electricity. Most electronics manufactured today enter into a standby mode when turned off which means they are still continuing to draw an idle current despite being powered down. Additionally, chargers for phones, PDA's, Blackberry's, iPods and others can all consume up to 5 watts per hour each, despite being fully charged or not being plugged into any devices.

Minimize the amount of heating and cooling in empty buildings and trailers

One of the largest consumers of electricity is the heating and cooling system. If the building is going to be empty for an extended period of time, make sure the thermostat is turned down to the point that the system is off. Similarly, if a trailer is empty, make sure the generator is turned off. Generators consume large amounts of fuel per hour, which leads to increased costs as well as emissions. When done shooting for the day, call utility services before leaving to have shooting power and the HVAC turned off before leaving.

For more details on Energy Generation, please read Chapter 3 of EMA's Green Seal Guidelines.

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