National Energy Awareness Month

Did you know that October is National Energy Awareness Month? How you use energy has an impact on everything around you, not just your immediate surroundings. Saving energy can not only save you a significant amount of money, but also help you to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Below we have shared some of our favorite tips on how to incorporate energy savings into your everyday life.  

Even better, if you have a home energy assessment, you can make many of these changes at no cost to you!

Small Changes/Huge Benefits:

Water.

Using less water in your daily routine is easy and has a huge impact on your energy usage. Shortening your shower by a few minutes can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Washing clothes and dishes only when you have full loads and with cold water can also help you save. Here are a few other ways to save energy by conserving water. Every little bit counts!

Air.

Switch to a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat. This can save you big time and will pay for itself easily! Use it to program your heating and cooling systems so that they do most of the work when you are home and not when the house is empty. Also, make sure you clean or replace your AC and furnace filters regularly to help them use less energy when cooling or heating your home. If you’re not using AC, you should turn off the fans in your home when you leave - this small change can save you up to $7 a month.

Light.

We say this a lot, but that’s because it’s worth repeating - change your light bulbs to ENERGY STAR^® certified LEDs. These bulbs not only use less energy, which helps you save on your energy bill, but they also last longer. Another important change that will help you save is to simply use more sunlight when available to light up your home. Aside from the obvious cost savings, there’s also a bonus – getting some extra sunlight is shown to improve your mood!

As part of Energy Awareness Month, the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) is offering resources to raise awareness of energy and water conservation practices. Their Home Energy Checklist outlines even more actions you can take to conserve energy within the home.

We hope that you consider incorporating some of our easy tips not only as part of National Energy Awareness month, but into your everyday lives. These small changes can yield huge benefits.