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This page of the Environmental Portal is currently being updated.

Heizungsventil
Photo: pixabay

Tips for Saving Heating Energy

Adjusting and Checking Radiators

  • For conventional thermostats: Set the valve to “2” to “3” (approx. 16 °C to 20 °C) for sedentary activities
  • Set all radiators in the room to the same valve setting
  • Set the valves on radiators in hallways and other common areas to frost protection *
  • Order valve adjustment clips from us: These prevent the valve from being turned past a certain position -> useful for rooms with varying occupancy!
  • Please report any damaged or missing valves here
  • If you hear a gurgling noise, the radiator needs to be bled; please report it here

Office Layout & Miscellaneous

  • Do not block radiators with furniture or other objects -> this ensures better heat distribution in the room
  • Do not use personally purchased space heaters
  • Keep office doors and, in general, doors to heated rooms closed
  • Take advantage of sunlight: open blinds during the day and close them when it gets dark

Ventilation

  • Ventilate thoroughly; never leave windows ajar!
    • Adjust the duration of ventilation according to the outside temperature and season
      • From November to March: 5–10 minutes
    • First turn off the radiator, then fully open the window for the appropriate amount of time, close it again, and only then turn the heating back on.
    • For lecture halls, the use of CO2 sensors is recommended; these allow for controlled ventilation only when objectively necessary
  • Check unused rooms regularly and close windows if necessary
  • For ventilation and air conditioning systems, keep ventilation openings clear; do not block them with objects
Glühbirne grün
Photo: pixabay

Tips for Saving Electricity

Lighting

  • Use natural light instead of artificial lighting
  • Turn off the lights when leaving the room!
  • Turn off the lights in public areas, such as restrooms, when necessary

General Appliances

  • Do not use standby modes
  • Charge battery-powered devices properly: from 20% to a maximum of 80% charge
    • If possible, do not use the device while it is charging
    • Unplug chargers from the outlet when not in use

IT Equipment

  • Install power strips with switches between devices (PC, laptop, monitor, and especially printers) and the power outlet
  • Turn off or shut down all devices and power strips at the end of the workday, unless they are needed overnight
    • Excluding telephones
  • Unplug any peripheral devices connected to the computer when they are not in use (external hard drives, USB flash drives, printers, etc.)
  • Regularly check CPU usage via Task Manager; if usage is high, identify the responsible processes and terminate them if necessary
  • Disable the screensaver and reduce screen brightness (60%)
  • Turn off the standby function on monitors (-> Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options\Edit Power Plan Settings -> “Turn off display” and “Sleep after”)
  • Enable power-saving mode on printers and copiers
    • ZIM staff copiers are already set to power-saving mode
  • Turn off printers (except for ZIM staff copiers -> network connection) at the end of the workday
  • Phone: Reduce display brightness (guide)
  • Shut down audio and video equipment in lecture halls and seminar rooms

Laboratory

  • Turn off equipment after use; check at the end of the workday
  • Fill autoclaves and washing systems completely
  • Freezers, refrigerators, and cold storage and freezer rooms
    • Do not set temperatures lower than necessary (including for air conditioning units)
    • Defrost regularly