Energy Efficiency Day is the first Wednesday in October. While bigger changes like upgrading your HVAC system to a heat pump or insulating your attic can cut those kilowatt-hours (and resulting emissions) considerably, small improvements that are accessible to most people can add up to an amazing collective impact. Get started with Southface Institute’s handy-dandy list of the top actions you can take in just one day.
1. Stop secret energy-sappers.
Appliances and electronics plugged into an outlet use energy even when they’re not turned on! To reduce your phantom plug load, inspect the appliances throughout your home and unplug any that you’re not currently using (toasters, coffee pots, etc.). Plan to add power strips to turn off several electronics at once.
2. Get personal with heating and cooling.
You could run a portable fan for 24 hours, and it would still use less energy than having the air conditioner on for 15 minutes. A heated blanket would similarly reduce your HVAC load when you’re cold. Invest in items that regulate the temperature of your body to cut back on cooling and heating your whole home.
3. Apply a little elbow grease.
Your major appliances can run more efficiently with some strategic cleaning. Clear out the lint and debris that builds up in your dryer vent. Clean the floor around your refrigerator, the coils, and all door gaskets. If your freezer or fridge has more than a quarter inch of frost, defrost it! Vacuum out your HVAC vents and change your air filter. Cleaning electric stovetop burners can even save energy.
4. Have a light bulb moment.
Are any of your lights still incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent? Go check. Even if they haven’t burned out yet, it’s a good idea to replace them now with LEDs, which use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last at least 15 times longer than fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs must be properly recycled because they contain mercury.
5. Block air escape routes.
Shut each exterior door and window on a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar bill out without it dragging, you’re losing energy. On a windy day, you can also use a stick of incense and look for disturbances in the smoke to identify drafts. Seal any air leaks you find with weatherstripping or caulk, and you can save 5%-30% of your home’s energy each year.
6. Heat your water wisely.
Many water heaters are set to temperatures that are higher than necessary to meet a person’s hot water needs, and that wastes money and energy. Set your water heater to “low” (not “off” or “pilot”) and try for 120°F as a setpoint. Electric hot water heaters may benefit from an insulation blanket too.
7. Make energy savings a whole mood.
Wherever it makes sense, plan to change standard light switches to dimmers paired with dimmable LED bulbs. This will reduce your energy use, and as a bonus, give you some fantastic mood lighting.
We hope these Energy Efficiency Day ideas inspire you to go a little greener in your everyday life. If you want to contribute to even more impact, donate to help us achieve our bold goal to reduce 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 2030 through Southface programming. Together, we can make the Earth a better place to live!
