Thanksgiving Closure Program Conserves Energy over Holiday Break

Building on the success of the established Winter Closure program, Stanford’s Facilities and Energy Management department and Office of Sustainability partnered with building managers across campus to conserve energy during the Thanksgiving holiday by shutting down heating and ventilation systems in campus buildings while the university was closed.

Thanks to the program, energy savings during the break increased by 57% compared to previous years, with buildings reducing consumption of electricity by 38% and heating by 65%, on average. More than 20 campus buildings participated in the shutdown, resulting in a combined savings of $8,900 in energy costs.