One of the easiest and most direct methods for a community college to save energy is to turn off lights in classrooms, laboratories and administrative offices whenever those places are not in use. Any room on the campus that has its lights on but no one inside is effectively wasting energy and money. Place signs by light switches that encourage teachers and students to turn off the lights when they are finished with a room, and advise staff to turn off lights in unused rooms they come across.
Like lights, equipment that is left on but not used is a significant energy drain. Computers, printers, copiers, desk lamps and laboratory equipment should be powered down when they are no longer in use. This includes computers in computer laboratories; such computers are often left on for days at a time at community colleges. Shutting down power-draining devices will have a positive impact on the school's energy consumption.
When the time comes to add a new laboratory facility or library to the campus, the community college officials may consider hiring a "green" developer to ensure the building is as energy efficient as possible. Green buildings use renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and they are designed to make the most of small amounts of power with very little waste. The green designs are implemented through certain architecture, electrical and plumbing engineering, materials, and air and heating methods. Building a green facility may cost more than building a non-green facility, but the design will save the community college money in energy costs by saving energy.
A contractor can weatherproof the windows throughout the community college. This will prevent hot and cold air from escaping during the winter and summer seasons. Less heat loss results in less power used by the school's climate control system, saving energy. Weatherproofing windows also helps cool air stay inside a building, lessening the need to use energy for air conditioning. On many days, opening windows lets outside air keep a building's interior climate agreeable.