Going to class, working, grabbing a bite to eat and catching some z’s are all a part of a typical daily routine, but something is missing from that list: Conserving energy.

Conserving energy can save you a few bucks and help save the planet.

In Bowling Green, energy is received from the wind turbines, coal plants and nuclear plants.

Annual energy sales in Bowling Green are 519 million kilowatt hours and cost 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

That amount of production and cost will set you back a pretty penny.

“High utility bills suck,” said sophomore and off-campus resident Danny Burkhart. “If I could have a solar panel I would, but it’s not really an option financially.”

“Utility bills get expensive,” said Andrew Fischer, previously an off-campus resident. “I was paying $30 a month over the summer for utilities. Things start to add up, especially when you don’t turn things off, take long showers, leave the air conditioning on high and leave windows open.”

To save money on high energy costs, freshman Gerald Greene does not turn on the heat, opens windows and turns the lights off.

The simplest ways to conserve energy are the most obvious: turn off the lights, the computer, t.v. and all other electronics when not being used, said Holly Myers, Environmental Sciences professor.

But even when turned off, electronics still draw electricity when plugged into an outlet said Myers. These appliances draw about 5 percent of one’s total energy, Bowling Green Utilities director Kevin Maynard said.

In order to avoid these “phantom electronics,” plug appliances into a power strip and turn the strip off when not in use.

Another easy option is to buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. According to energystar.gov, one bulb can save $30 or more in energy costs during its lifetime, which is 10 times longer than a regular bulb. It also produces 75 percent less heat and energy.

In order to save energy and money in houses or apartments, students can look into a few factors.

One of the first factors to examine is door and window seals, look for any outside lights or drafts coming through. Such possibilities mean more energy loss and higher energy output and costs according to Myers.

Myers recommends buying weather stripping to avoid the extra loss and costs.

Another way to conserve energy as an off-campus resident is to ask potential landlords for past utility bills, Myers suggests. This allows a preview of what future utility bills may cost.

Myers also suggests to inquire about the age and insulation of the residence. Older homes tend to have less adequate insulation ,causing heat and air conditioning to leak out easier.

In an apartment complex, apartments in the middle of the building generally produce less energy because they draw heat from surrounding rooms.

For the dorms, Myers suggested runway lights for the halls at night so less energy is used but the lights can still meet safety requirements.

Maynard suggests Energy Star products, from appliances to computers, as another option to conserve energy in the home or dorm.

Examining energy saving options can save a bundle and the planet, but Maynard said he has not seen a dramatic increase in conservation yet.

“People do not want to take on the responsibility of protecting the environment,” Myers said.