Take a look at some typical and not-so-typical approaches institutions are taking to go green.

Here are some green ideas from around the country:

• Ohio State University – The school is turning off lights and computers that are not in use. That simple measure helped lead to substantial energy savings for one of the university’s campuses, which cut more than $3 million from its energy bill over a recent 12-month period.
• Rutgers University – At the Livingston campus, solar is in. The campus is in the process of installing more than seven acres of solar panels. That will go a long way toward providing energy on campus and reducing harmful emissions.
• The University of New Hampshire – The university is encouraging students to make sure those TVs, refrigerators and other electric products they bring to campus are Energy Star-approved.
• University of Rhode Island – One unconventional idea: asking students to take shorter showers. Students resisted the idea, although they did reduce the number of weekly showers taken from eight to a little less than seven per week.

What are you doing to go green? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: energy efficiency, solar power