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Power Down Before You Head Out for Winter Break

bartholomew.185@osu.edu | December 17, 2025
Snow covered trees are shown on the Oval.

Heading Out for Winter Break? Power Down First!
Before you leave for break, give your space an energy makeover. While Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Operations crews and other essential staff remain on campus to keep our buildings safe and running, it’s still important to unplug electronics, turn off lights and check thermostats before you go. It’s easy and makes a big impact! For more tips, visit our Energy Saving Checklist and do your part to conserve energy this season.

Lights Out: Turn off all lights, including task lighting and holiday lights, when you leave your office, classroom or lab. 

Heating and Cooling:

  • If your space has individual controls, set thermostats to the lower temperature or use energy-saving or “unoccupied” mode. Make sure the temperature stays above 60°F to prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Close blinds or shades in unoccupied rooms to help regulate temperature.
  • Make sure windows and doors are closed tightly to keep conditioned air in. If you’re feeling the chill from outside, be sure to report any outside air issues or infiltrations to S2F. 

Unplug the Energy Vampires: Items like coffee makers, microwaves and even phone chargers draw "vampire power" when left plugged in, even if they're not in use. Unplug chargers, power strips and small appliances. 

Computers and Equipment: Shut down computers, monitors and peripherals. Turn off and unplug projectors, AV equipment and lab instruments not in use.

Labs and Specialized Areas: An open sash uses an enormous amount of heated air, equivalent to heating multiple homes per day. Fully close all fume hood sashes when not in use. 

Essential Equipment: Some equipment must remain powered on. Ensure that critical systems, such as freezers or safety monitors, stay operational. If you have any questions, check with your supervisor or the building coordinator.