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Snohomish County Memo to All Employees

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Snohomish County
Energy Conservation Memo

Executive Office

M/S #407
3000 Rockefeller Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-3460
FAX (425) 388-3434

To All County Employees:

Since 1996, Snohomish County has been actively pursuing energy conservation. Energy use at the Courthouse Campus is now 30 percent less than 1995 levels, despite the increased number of employees and personal computers. Despite the efforts made so far, the county will see significant cost increases due to the recent power shortages and their resulting rate hikes.

In addition to our own efforts to conserve energy, we are seeking to comply with Governor Locke's directive, Energy Supply Alert Order No. 01-03, issued in January. That directive instructs us to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent, reduce consumption between the peak hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays, and adjust temperature settings by two to three degrees (down for heating, up for cooling.) I am asking each of you to look for ways to reduce energy consumption in the areas you occupy. Here are some of the most common things we can do:

Lighting: Turn off any lighting when it is not needed. Turn off all decorative lighting not necessary for departmental operation. If you are the last person leaving a room, turn the lights off. If your office is near a window, turn the lights off when daylight is adequate. If you come in early or stay late, only turn on the lights serving the area you work in. If you have task lighting, turn it off when you leave at night. Even if your area lights are controlled by the energy management system at night, turn off local light switches.

Computers: Turn your monitor off when you leave every night. Computers must be left on during the week for software and virus protection updates. However, turn them off on Friday for the weekend unless the computer is necessary for after-hours activity. Turn customer access computers on for public hours only. Turn off printers every night. If you have questions about turning off your computer equipment, please contact the PC help desk at (425) 388-3378.

Office Equipment: Turn everything off at night. Appoint someone from each group to ensure shared equipment is turned off. Turn off printers, copy machines, coffee pots, fans, air cleaners, etc. Fax machines can be left on.

Ventilation: Each building's temperature control and ventilation system operates to satisfy the requirements of the building. The systems will be operated to provide 68 degrees for heating and 76 degrees for cooling during regular occupancy periods (typically 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.) Some areas operating 24 hours per day have systems operating continuously.

The Facilities Management Department is looking at additional ways to reduce energy use. So far, some lighting has been removed and other operating equipment schedules have been modified. If you have ideas for helping to save energy, please route them through your supervisor to Facilities Management at (425) 388-3347.

We appreciate all of your efforts to conserve energy.

Sincerely,

Bob Drewel

County Executive

[E-mail Sent to Employees 2-7-01]