Turn down the power and rack up your savings
Whether you live in a dormitory, rent an apartment, or own your place, there are many ways you can save money on your energy bill and decrease your environmental impact. Start with small behaviors like unplugging appliances and build up to others like asking your landlord to consider renewable energy sources. If you’d like to take on some energy saving projects of your own, check out these recommendations from the Department of Energy. You can also visit Energize Connecticut to learn about money-saving energy solutions. Read on for information about sustainable appliances, heating and cooling, and energy sourcing.
Appliances
Here are some tips and tricks so that your appliances don’t suck up more energy than they need:
- If you’re buying a new appliance, make sure to purchase one with an ENERGY STAR designation. This designation, given by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, indicates that an appliance meets a certain standard of energy efficiency.
- Save energy by turning off and unplugging electronics such as chargers, computer, television or combine your commonly used items into a Smart power strip which cuts off power for appliances when you aren’t using them.
- Only run your dishwasher when it’s full. The dishwasher will use a similar amount of energy regardless of load size, so only running it when it is full will save energy and water.
- Only do laundry when you have a full load and use cold water when washing.
- Switch your light bulbs to LEDs, which last longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs.
- Interested in monitoring how much energy your home is using at any given time so that you can change your habits? Check out these energy monitors: Sense, Curb, or Efergy. Although these are pricey, they will help you save a lot of money on your energy bill in the long run.
Heating and Cooling
Do you live in a dorm?
- Here are some tips on how to use your radiators so that you’re not sweating during the winter when it’s 30°F outside.
- Report problems to Yale Facilities as soon as you encounter them.
Do you rent or own an apartment or house?
- Here’s advice on asking your landlord to make your house or apartment more sustainable.
- Keep your thermostat at 68° or below when the heat is on and at 75° and above when the air conditioning is on. Doing this will save you money and decrease your energy usage.
- In the winter, program your thermostat to be lower when you’re out of the house and at night.
- Close blinds on hot days to keep the sun out and open them on cold days to let the sun in.
- Insulate your windows so that cold air doesn’t get in and hot air doesn’t escape during the winter. Make sure doors are sealed shut as well.
- Planting trees in strategic areas around your house can help keep it cool.
Energy Sourcing
Solar panels at Yale’s West Campus.
Do you want to do an energy audit of your house or apartment?
Get energy saving tips and sign up for an energy audit with the help of Energize Connecticut.
Interested in getting solar panels on your house, apartment building, or office building?
Check out Google’s Project Sunroof. When you enter your address, it will tell you how much money you can save by installing solar panels.
Ready for the next step? Here are some solar energy companies in New Haven and Connecticut that will give you a free assessment and help you get solar panels up and running.
Interested in supporting renewable energy, but can’t get solar panels?
Check out Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). You can pay a small fee on top of your monthly energy bill (~$5) which goes towards supporting renewable energy efforts across the country. Arcadia Power is one company that sells RECs.