NES Celebrates National Energy Awareness Month

October is National Energy Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of energy conservation and efficiency. Designated by the U.S. Department of Energy, this month aims to increase public understanding of our energy needs and choices.

Do you consider your home to be energy-efficient? Each room in your home offers an opportunity to use energy more wisely, but many people don’t realize how these small changes can lead to big savings. That’s why NES has identified some common household habits that waste energy. If any of these sound familiar, now is the time to make a change and start saving.

1. Leaving the lights on in empty rooms. This is one of the most common energy-wasting habits, and it’s also one of the easiest to fix. Simply turning off the lights when you leave a room saves energy and helps your bulbs last longer. For even greater savings, switch to LED bulbs, which use at least 75% less energy.
2. Not adjusting your thermostat. Adjusting your home’s temperature at night or when you’re away is the most cost-effective way to save energy. Programmable thermostats can help you remember by automatically adjusting temperatures based on your schedule. Smart thermostats offer even more advanced features, such as remote control and self-programming.
3. Taking long showers. Standard shower heads use 2.5 to 3 gallons of water per minute. Cutting your shower time to under 10 minutes can save a significant amount of water and the energy used to heat it. You can save even more by installing an energy-efficient shower head.
4. Running partial loads. Operating your dishwasher or clothes washer with just a few items is a major waste of energy. Wait until your appliances are fully loaded before running them to maximize efficiency.
5. Forgetting to change your furnace filter. A dirty air filter forces your heating and cooling system to work harder. Change your furnace filter regularly and have your systems inspected and cleaned annually to ensure they run efficiently.

Taking these small steps not only saves you money on your energy bill, but also benefits the community and the planet. The month of October is also a great time to perform a home energy audit. Check out the NES Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit to get a better understanding of your home’s energy efficiency.