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For more information, visit
Energy
Star or call the ENERGY STAR Hotline at 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937)
How does SMG plan to save money while protecting the environment?
By proactive energy management with the help of ENERGY STAR!
As an ENERGY STAR partner, SMG is committed to improving the energy efficiency of its facilities. Not only will this make our facilities more comfortable, it will also save money and reduce air pollution! SMG's world-class energy management approach is the right thing to do for our clients, our communities, and our financial bottom line!
| SMG
and Energy Star
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Energy
Saving Tips
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What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR helps businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment by eliminating wasted energy.
Background on Energy
Star
- Energy Star was
introduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency
in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to
identify and promote energy-efficient products, in
order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
- Energy Star has
expanded to cover new homes, most of the commercial
buildings sector, residential heating and cooling
equipment, major appliances, office equipment,
lighting, consumer electronics, and more product
areas.
- Energy Star offers
guidance on incorporating energy efficiency into
energy management practices. It also offers on-line
tools and resources to track and manage energy
consumption.
- Energy Star provides
networking opportunities and assists with
communications and PR efforts for partners.
Energy Star is taking
an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to
curb global warming!
What can Energy Star
do?
- The national annual
energy bill would be reduced by about $200 billion
if all consumers, businesses, and organizations in
the United States made their product choices and
building improvement decisions with Energy Star over
the next decade.
- With that would come
a sizable contribution to reducing air pollution and
protecting the earth’s climate for future
generations!
- With Energy Star,
money isn’t all you’re saving!
SMG’s
Involvement:
- SMG joined this
voluntary program, funded by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, in 1998. By dedicating 23 million
square feet to the program, SMG became the one of
the largest Entertainment partners in the program.
Energy Star provides
energy management
resources
and assistance to SMG.
Save Money with
Energy Star for your Home
- Look for the Energy
Star label on products like clothes washers,
TVs/VCRs, heating and cooling equipment, and more to
save money on energy bills and help the environment
at the same time!
- Look for an Energy
Star labeled new home to start saving 30% every year
on your energy bills!
Increase the comfort
and energy efficiency of your existing home with
home
saving tips.
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SMG’s
Commitment to Improved Energy Management
In keeping with our
reputation for excellence in facility management, SMG
holds energy performance as a high corporate priority
and will continue to identify, implement, and share best
practices among our properties. Striving to improve
energy performance will continually play a significant
role in SMG business practices.
SMG’s mission is
to:
- Provide high-quality
facility management services by identifying and
implementing best practices that will improve
facility comfort and functionality.
- Improve corporate
financial performance by striving to reduce
operating costs, directly impacting the bottom line.
Support our commitment
to environmental quality and employee and community well
being through efforts to reduce energy consumption and
pollution.
Current
and Upcoming Energy Management Efforts
Because energy
efficiency is a high priority, SMG is constantly looking
for ways to improve the energy performance of its
facilities. Examples of our efforts include:
- Identifying two
pilot facilities to track and manage energy
consumption, with the goal of expanding these
efforts to all facilities. This will help identify
facilities with the most potential to improve energy
performance.
- Using our Intranet
site to share information and best practices through
our Operational Survey Form, Bulletin Board,
Products Page, and Standards Page.
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Save
Energy
at Home!
Tips to
Reduce Home Energy Bills
The EPA estimates that
average homeowners could save $400 a year on their
energy bills just by purchasing energy-efficient
products with the Energy Star label, and using energy
more wisely. Easy ways to save energy and dollars around
the home are listed below.
Windows, Doors, and
Lights
- Look for Energy Star
labeled windows, doors, and skylights. These can
reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 15
percent.
- Seal leaks around
windows and doors, plumbing and pipe wall
penetrations, gaps around chimneys and anywhere air
leaks are found.
- Turn off interior
and exterior lights when not needed.
- Reduce the wattage
of bulbs located in non-critical spaces.
Replace incandescent
bulbs with fluorescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps
can save as much as 66 percent of the electricity used
by incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.
Heating and Cooling
- Look for Energy Star
labeled heating and cooling equipment.
- Choose an Energy
Star labeled room air conditioner over a
conventional model to save over 20 percent in
operating costs over the lifetime of the appliance.
- During the heating
season:
- Set thermostats
back 2 degrees. You can save approximately 6
percent on your heating costs by heating your
home to 68 degrees as opposed to 70 degrees.
- Adjust
thermostats back at night and when away from
home.
- Keep your
furnace clean and properly adjusted.
- Keep window
treatments open during times when the sun is
shining and closed at night.
- Keep fireplace
dampers closed when you’re not using the
fireplace.
- Install
insulated storm windows and doors or use plastic
covers around windows.
- Replace filters
every 4 to 6 weeks. Clean filters help equipment
run more efficiently.
- Install proper
insulation in ceilings, walls, floors, heating
ducts, and other conditioned spaces.
- During the cooling
season:
- Adjust
thermostat setting to 78 degrees and higher
during times when not home.
- Turn off the
furnace pilot light during the non-heating
season.
- Reduce pool
water temperatures and use a pool cover if
available.
- Keep window
treatments closed during times when windows are
exposed to direct sunlight.
- Open windows and
use ceiling and window fans to take advantage of
cooler outside temperatures.
- Plant shade
trees and shrubs around house.
Water Heaters
- Replace old water
heaters with more efficient models bearing the
Energy Star label.
- Turn down the
temperature setting to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll
save energy and avoid potential burns.
- Install a water
heater insulating jacket and insulate hot water
pipes to reduce energy loss.
Kitchens
- Look for Energy Star
labeled refrigerators and dishwashers. Choosing an
Energy Star labeled refrigerator over a conventional
model will save approximately 20 percent in
operating costs over the lifetime of the appliance.
- Defrost freezers
regularly and keep refrigerant coils clean. This
will keep the compressor from overworking and
wasting energy.
- Open doors to the
refrigerator and freezer only when necessary. Unplug
extra refrigerators when not in use.
- Load dishwashers to
full capacity to save water and energy. Use the
"no-heat" drying feature or allow dishes
to air dry.
- Use appropriately
sized pots and pans and make sure they sit flat on
the cooking surface to prevent heat loss and
increase efficiency.
- Plan meals to avoid
cooking only one food at a time.
- Use microwave ovens
to cook and reheat small quantities of food.
Bathrooms
- Take showers in
place of baths to reduce water and energy
consumption.
- Install low-flow
showerheads and water-flow restrictors to reduce the
amount of water used and the energy used to heat it.
Laundry Rooms
- Look for Energy Star
labeled clothes washers, which use 50 percent less
energy than conventional machines.
- Load washers to
capacity to conserve energy and water.
- Use cold water
whenever possible and during rinse cycles – it
doesn’t affect the cleaning quality and it uses
less energy.
- Always dry full
loads of clothes and hang or line dry clothes
whenever possible.
Click here for a
complete guide to purchasing
Energy
Star labeled products.
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Save
Energy
at Work!
Tips to
Reduce How Much Energy Your Office Uses
- Turn off the lights!
Ten to 40% of lighting costs can be saved by
lighting only
occupied spaces. Use occupancy sensors in private
offices, conference rooms, and other enclosed space
types. Energy savings in open plan offices can be as
much as 10 to 15%.
- Turn off your
monitor at night! You could save up to $110 per year
for each color computer monitor that is turned off
for 14.5 hours per night, 365 days per year. Save up
to $22 per year with each color monitor that can go
into "sleep" mode.
- Adjust your
thermostat! One to 2% of summer cooling costs can be
saved for every degree the thermostat setting is
raised during the summer. For every degree the
thermostat setting is lowered during the winter, 2
– 3% of heating energy can be saved. Adjust
thermostats when your office is going to be
unoccupied for long periods of time (i.e., if there
is a company-wide shutdown due to holiday or other
seasonal lulls in doing business).
- Keep vents clear! As
much as 25% more energy is required to distribute
air if supply and return vents are blocked. Keep
areas in front of supply and return air ducts clear
to permit airflow.
- Use window
treatments! During the summer, keep window
treatments closed when windows are exposed to direct
sunlight. During the winter, keep window treatments
open during times when the sun is shining. Close
window treatments at night in the winter.
- Email! Manage
information electronically. Make copies and print
only when necessary.
- Use efficient bulbs!
Compact fluorescent bulbs can save as much as 66% of
the electricity used by incandescent bulbs and last
10 times longer. Use task lighting with compact
fluorescent lamps where most light is needed so less
lighting is required for the entire space. With task
lighting used in general open floor plan offices,
overhead lighting can be reduced to about 1.0 watt
per square foot.
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