Energy is a vital resource that plays an important role in every aspect of our daily lives. We depend on energy to power our homes, stay connected with our friends and family, keep our food cold, and much more.
October 5th is Energy Efficiency Day which was created to remind people to conserve this valuable resource and in turn will help save money, reduce pollution and create jobs. According to EnergyEfficiencyDay.org there are 943 local governments, universities, organizations, corporations and others that have pledged to bring awareness to this important day. The goal is to share tips and tools that promote the multiple benefits of energy efficiency.
To celebrate Energy Efficiency Day here are seven helpful tips to reduce energy usage in your home.
- Make the switch to LED: LED lights last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs and consume up to 90% less electricity. It’s also important to switch your lights off when you are not home.
- Use natural light: During daylight hours, switch off artificial lights and use windows and skylights to brighten your home. However, during warmer months, it’s important to keep windows and blinds closed to help keep your home cool and reduce overworking your home’s cooling system.
- Service your air conditioner routinely: According to the Department of Energy, routinely replacing or cleaning air filters can lower your cooling system’s energy consumption by up to 15%.
- Circulate fresh air: A simple way to conserve energy is to open your windows to increase airflow in your home. Using ceiling fans as a cooling system will cut the energy you are using by allowing you to raise the thermostat four degrees.
- Don’t overuse your appliances: Another way to reduce your energy is to reduce the use of household appliances. For example, try washing dishes by hand instead of running the dishwasher. Another idea: try hanging your clothes to dry instead of running your dryer.
- Fire up the grill: On warmer days, cooking on an outdoor grill instead of an indoor oven can also reduce your energy use and help keep your thermostat from working on overdrive to keep your home cool against the heat that a range produces.
- Adjust your thermostat or install a programmable thermostat: The adjustments that will provide the most cost-effective savings include adjusting your thermostat when you are not home, lowering the heat on your thermostat in the winter, and using the air conditioning less in the summer. According to Energy Sage, heating and cooling costs make up to half of a home’s utility bills. On average, a programmable thermostat can help you save up to $180 per year.
The benefits of practicing ways to reduce energy usage are significant to lowering energy costs, reducing harmful carbon emissions that pollute our air and water and helping to preserve our natural resources. RESA invites you to share ways that you are practicing energy efficiency by sharing these tips and tagging @RESAUSA #EEDay2022.
