Conserving Electricity

[Gaian]

Here at the Walters we have established an Energy Committee to evaluate and suggest ways to save energy. I sit on this committee because, obviously, lighting consumes a significant amount of overall usage and I have made a commitment to do as much as I can to converse. Over the course of the last three years we have managed to shave off 12% of the electrical usage each year. That amounts to about $80,000.00 per year off the electric bill.

To achieve this I have investigated and evaluated alternative lighting technologies. For the most part this has involved switching to compact fluorescents and cold cathode lamps wherever possible. I have also lowered the wattages of the incandescent floods and spots since I found that I had to use neutral density material to cut back some of the light. Whenever I make a change I write up a report that goes to the CFO that lets him know that we can expect a reduction of kilowatt hours from the change. I may be spending more money on lamps but I explained to my division director that any change I make affects the budgets in other departments. As a result I now have others in the museum coming to me to ask if they can have more energy efficient lamps in their areas.

I am curious to know what the rest of you have done. Do you have an energy conservation plan? Are you interested in saving money and energy? what steps have you taken to lower costs?