TLU and TalTech: conscious consumption brings savings

• When we leave the room, turn off the light and turn off all appliances that are currently consuming electricity. Some examples: lighting one square meter in a workspace with fluorescent lighting costs an average of 0.5 cents, with LED lights 0.25 cents per hour, at a price level of 35 cents per kWh. A desk lamp with an LED lamp consumes 0.006 kW/h, a desktop computer with a monitor consumes 0.1 kW/h.
• Computers, television sets, coffee machines and audio equipment should only be turned off from the mains if they are not going to be used for a long period of time. The consumption of today's electronic devices in standby mode is mostly extremely low, but switching them on and off increases the risk of device power supply failure.
• Smart devices charge up in a few hours, but if you leave a fully charged smart device connected to the charger, it consumes energy and also shortens the battery life (this does not only apply to LFP batteries).
• If the ventilation unit is working in the room, it is wise to keep the door closed. Otherwise, the ventilation system becomes unbalanced and consumes more energy compared to regular operation, because the corridors are also ventilated.
• If we let the faucet run for a minute longer, it means that 3.5 liters of water will reach the sink and from there to the sewer. In addition, we have to take into account that the cost of heating m3 of water is more than 5 euros during the heating period, to which the water and sewage costs are added.
• Keeping the temperature between 19 and 21 degrees at all times gives the greatest savings. But if, for example, a week-long vacation is coming, when possible, turn the radiator thermostat to the minimum. It is not wise to heat an empty room.

• Do not use electric radiators or fans to heat the room. Moving the heater to the office increases the energy costs. If a room is colder (or seems colder) than expected, it is worth notifying the Property Management Office.

TLU house managers contacts

• If the room is cooler than usual, university work environment specialists recommend wearing layered clothing, which helps to maintain body heat. Specialists also recommend wearing cuffs on your wrists and warm shoes or warming socks. For example, when sitting at a desk in the office, it is convenient to put your feet in slippers, which keep your feet warm better than shoes.
• Work environment specialists also recommend taking more rest breaks than before, during which you can move, warm up and stretch. If the muscles are already stiff due to the cool room, then the person must definitely move and stretch as soon as possible. When moving between floors, prefer the stairs to the elevator if possible.
• For example it is recommended to hold small meetings (2-4 people) while walking around the campus - when you move, your circulation works better and you get warm. There are also more fresh thoughts and ideas when moving.
• Don't forget to drink warm water or hot tea, which helps to restore fluid loss caused by a cool or cold room. Warm tea also helps relieve the feeling of cold.
• Proper nutrition is also important in maintaining good health and well-being, and it is especially recommended to eat a warm lunch.
• Did you know that taking a cold shower helps with acclimatization? Cold water tempering also has additional beneficial health effects in addition to reducing cold sensitivity.

The whole of Europe is facing a difficult winter, and the uncertainty about it is causing anxiety. According to Aleksander Pulver, Associate Professor of Personality Psychology at Tallinn University, maintaining a habitual lifestyle helps to cope with increased anxiety. Psychologically, maintaining one's habitual lifestyle so-called "reduces" vague risk.

How does a difficult time affect a person psychologically?

• In behavior: an increase in the number of mistakes in activities, a decrease in work efficiency and unwillingness to act.
• In emotions: a decrease in sadness, irritability and a sense of satisfaction.
• In relationships: decrease in communication, becoming more closed, decrease in caring for communication partners.
• In cognition: an increase in hopelessness and pessimism, a decrease in self-esteem, an increase of sense of the futility of activity and existence.

What to do in this case?

The most important thing is to keep in mind the three principles that determine resistance to stress.

1. There are no inescapable situations, and no matter what happens or doesn't happen, it is possible to find a solution.
2. Difficulties and sufferings are there to be overcome and it is worth being grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.
3. The more complicated the perceived situation, the more necessary it is to talk about your problems and ask for advice – from colleagues, friends and loved ones.

People who are able to think like this can withstand tension and stress even in extreme situations.

The war in Ukraine and the high prices of energy carriers is a new situation for us and it requires adaptation. Adaptation always means stress for a person. At the same time, we already have the experience to adapt our activities in the conditions of a pandemic, which is why we are already familiar with the situation of adaptation. This means there should be less stress.

In addition, the last month of the year brings positive moods and feelings. Despite this, it is worthwhile to proceed from the principle of reasonableness – to do what is possible in the given circumstances and to postpone to the future those activities that require great effort and resources in the given circumstances. In other words, rational planning of activities is basically necessary. The psychological effect of planning is that it reduces uncertainty and anxiety.

At Tallinn University, the ventilation equipment is switched off from 18:00 on Saturday evening until 8:00 on Monday morning. If the lecturer needs to carry out teaching activities during this period, it is reasonable to first try to find an opportunity to plan the teaching work for another day. However, if this is not possible, it is recommended to find a room with windows, to take more frequent breaks to air out the room and move yourself so that the body doesn’t become stiff.

If you need to ventilate the room with windows, close the thermostat of the heater before opening the window and then open the windows in opposite rooms or several windows in the same room, so that a short-term wind draft occurs and the indoor air is rapidly exchanged with fresh outdoor air. Then close the windows and open the thermostats again, setting them to a position that ensures an internal temperature of 19-21°C.

Let’s stick together in every way – in the case of larger offices let's gather in one if possible, so that a situation doesn’t arise where one person sits in every office and therefore the lights are on everywhere. By congregating in one office, we keep the lights on in only one room and since human bodies heat the room then we also keep the room warmer when we are together.