FLEX ALERT! The California Independent SystemOperator—or as I like to think of them, the magic elves that ensure our electric grid keeps running—has issued a Flex Alert for today, August 14^th.

In a Flex Alert we are asked to conserve power to make sure that there is enough to keep the AC on (screw the lights, all I care about in 109 is the AC!). And, from someone who was without power from 5pm-1am on Friday I can say it’s not what you want to experience! So, what can you do at the office and at home?

Well, thanks to our friends at Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Company we have plenty of no cost ways to conserve:

NO-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT WORK from SCE Energy Tips for Home and Office, R-647-V1-0910

Office Equipment

Turn off your screen savers. There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce a monitors energy use; they do not. Today’s screen savers actually waste power by keeping your computer active.
Configure your computer’s sleep mode to turn off your monitor after 10 minutes and your hard disks after 20 minutes.
Insure that coffee pots, radios or other equipment have been switched off when not in use.
At the end of the work day, turn off all equipment every night — especially monitors and printers. Monitors usually consume twice the electricity as CPUs.

Office Lighting

Turn off lights at your workstation and utilize the natural light coming from your office or building windows.
Use only the lights you need. Switch off lighting that is unnecessary.
Always turn off lights in unoccupied rooms or areas that are not used as frequently during work hours, such as conference rooms or break rooms.
Many areas may be overlit. Use multi-switching to turn off a portion of the lights, if possible.

Office Miscellaneous

Wear layered clothing so you can adjust to temperatures and stay comfortable.
Print two-sided whenever possible.

NO-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT HOME

Set thermostat at 78 or turn off, if away
Cool with fans & draw drapes
Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances
Use major appliances in morning or late evening

Thank you for doing your part to conserve energy!