Saving Energy – Good for you, your Wallet, and the Planet

Benefits of Efficient Homes

You have the power to make simple adjustments in your life that are good for you, your wallet, and the planet. And what could possibly check all three boxes you ask? Smart energy upgrades. Whether it’s an appliance upgrade or an adjustment to your weekly habits, paying more attention to your energy use can have major payoffs! The science supports this claim. Read on.

The average US household spends $2,060 every year on energy utility bills. By adopting energy saving habits and making energy efficiency upgrades in your home, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save anywhere from 5 to 30 percent on your utility bills. While some energy saving upgrades may have a higher initial cost, savings on utility bills over the lifetime of the product can typically offset the initial price premium.  

Air leaks and poor insulation will make your house chilly in the winter, even with a good heating system. When you install energy efficient measures, your home will be warmer, drier, and properly ventilated. This will make your home feel more comfortable, improves indoor air quality and lowers the risk of illnesses and mold growth. Better for your wallet, better for you!

Saving Energy for the Planet

Saving energy is also beneficial for the environment. On average for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you avoid using you save over a pound of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that would otherwise be pumped into the atmosphere; in addition to reducing air pollutants that contribute to respiratory diseases like asthma and lung disease. 

Carbon dioxide is the chief contributing pollutant to climate change. Carbon dioxide and air pollutants like particulate matter and mercury are emitted from the generation of electricity due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Different utilities and states have different electricity generation mixes. Most all utilities have some percentage of their generation mix coming from fossil fuels. But some utilities generate electricity using a greater percentage of carbon free energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro power, and nuclear power. Find out what generation mix is used to produce electricity in your state. 

Ultimately adopting energy efficient equipment and behaviors in homes and buildings will help accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. Energy efficiency is considered the “first fuel” because it has been proven by many analyses to be the most cost-effective and fast-track way to address global climate change while reducing energy usage and more affordably expanding the use of renewable energy sources.

Get the benefits! How to Save Energy in Your Home

As you can see from the chart above, there are a variety of different ways to save energy depending upon the end use. Many ways to save energy are free and involve just changing behaviors, some are easy and low cost, while others require more time and money investment. Joining a MeterLeader Challenge will empower you by giving you the motivation and information you need to start taking action. Saving energy and becoming as energy efficient as possible is a journey. MeterLeader will help you achieve your energy saving goals.