| Energy Watch |
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Get Energized About Conserving Electricity
Most of us have been told at some point in our lives to turn off the lights when we weren't in a room or to close the refrigerator door. What we may not have known then was what an impact those statements could truly have on the earth. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (www.energy.gov), almost 60% of an average American home's electricity use is for things other than heating and cooling. We can minimize that usage in a variety of ways. The first and most important step is to understand where and how much electricity you are using. You can perform your own energy audit or hire a professional. Either way, once you determine your "energy use culprits", make a list of changes needed to address them. Then start at the top of the list and work you way down. Making changes to reduce the amount of electricity you use can have a big impact on the environment. What Makes It Green? The fossil fuels used to run the power stations that generate our electricity contribute to both air and water pollution. In the U.S., the average family's energy use generates over 11,200 pounds of air pollutants each year. If we can cut back on the amount of electricity we use, we'll also be cutting down on the amount of pollutants in the world. Another consideration is that fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. By cutting our electric consumption we can help to save these precious resources. Saving electricity helps to keep the planet green and can also save you some "green". The average American home spends $1,900 a year on energy bills. So why not look for ways to conserve energy in your home today? What You Can Do
 According to the EPA, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while they are turned off.  Our Owl Electricity Monitor (www.theowl.com) helped us see our usage habits and determine where we could make adjustments to cut down our usage.
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