Winter 2008

UTexas Engineers

10 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Courtesy of Dr. Dave Allen, director, UT Energy Institute

Easy
  1. Change a light bulb: Use compact fluorescent bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs. New compact fluorescent bulbs (look for the Energy Star seal on the package) can save $30-40 in energy over the life of the bulb versus an incandescent bulb and eliminate the use of hundreds of pounds of coal per bulb.
  2. Check your tires: Under-inflated tires on your car are
    dangerous and reduce gas mileage by up to 3 percent. Save up to a dollar per fill-up and be safe.
  3. Wash in cold water: Don’t heat all that water in your washing machine. Use a cold water detergent.
A Little Harder
  1. Plant a tree: A tree near your house (but not so close that it disrupts the foundation) reduces your home energy bill by shading in the summer and protecting the house from cold winds in the winter.
  2. Tune up your car: It improves your gas mileage and reduces air pollution.
  3. Put your housing on an energy budget: Add insulation or keep the thermostat a bit warmer in summer, a bit cooler in winter.
A Little Harder Still
  1. Change a trip: Ride the bus; change a business trip into a virtual meeting; carpool, walk or ride a bike.
  2. Improve your gas mileage: The next time you purchase a vehicle, get a vehicle with better gas mileage. Until then, remember that aggressive driving (frequent acceleration and braking) uses more gas. Drive friendly.
  3. Support clean-energy programs: Buy green power. Install solar cells.
Most Important
  1. Change your energy habits and get two other people to do some of the things on this list: Individual behavior translates into large-scale change only if many of us are involved. Buying a single light bulb may not seem like much, but if more than 100 million people do it, it will make a difference.

For an Energy Future Free of CO2 Emissions, Look to the Oil and Gas Industry

Dr. Steve Bryant (PhDChE ’86), professor of petroleum and geosystems engineering, believes the oil industry is uniquely qualified
to help save the planet

Faculty Research Illuminates Energy Challenges

Cockrell School faculty expertise spans the entire spectrum of energy-related issues, from CO2 emissions to solar cells to plant operations management. Here is a sample of the heavy-hitting research being conducted at the school today

Multi-Disciplinary Energy Institute to Inform International Policy

Launching this fall, the university’s Energy Institute combines the strengths of the Cockrell School with those of other top-rated schools within the university to advance solutions to today’s energy-related challenges

10 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption

Courtesy of Dr. Dave Allen, director, UT Energy Institute