Powerful Choices: Becoming Clean-Energy Aware and Electricity-Wise

Most women can't imagine a day without flipping on a light, powering up a computer, or microwaving their food.  But we rarely think about where that electricity comes from and the impact our electricity choices have on the environment, the air we breathe, and our economy. Every month at bill-paying time, we know how the power bill weighs on the household budget, and now it is more important than ever to make wise choices about the electricity we use.

 

How clean is my electricity?

- It depends on which sources of electricity are used.  Nuclear, hydro (water), wind, and solar are energy sources that don't emit air pollution or pollution that contributes to global warming.

 

Find out how clean your electricity is. 
- You can get information on your utility's fuel mix and emissions profile and even calculate the emissions your home or business produces.  Go to www.epa.gov/cleanenergy; look under "Energy and You."

 

Check your utility when you write your check.

- Check your utility's Web site for information on clean energy, conservation, and efficiency programs offered for your home or business.  Find out how your utility plans to provide cleaner electricity; let the utility know your position.

 

Think bigger picture - your state and our country

- Check your state and federal energy department Web sites for information on the growing number of incentive programs that fund energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades for your home or business.  Start with www.energy.gov for the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

Change your elected leaders along with your light bulbs.
- Pay attention to what policies local, state, and federal elected officials advocate.  Vote for leaders who will move our country towards clean energy sources.

 

Where does most of the electricity in my home go?

- Home owners use electricity for lighting, operating appliances, producing hot water and, in some cases, heating and cooling.

- On average, air conditioning consumes 16 percent; your refrigerator, 13.7 percent; water heating, 9.1 percent; space heating, 10.1 percent.  Lighting uses another 8.8 percent; clothes dryers, 5.8 percent; freezers, 3.5 percent; furnace fans, 3.3 percent; and color TVs, 2.9 percent.

- When coal and other fossil fuels are burned to create electricity, greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere.  The average American home's electricity usage results in 18,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year released into the atmosphere.

 

What can I do in my home to help me save energy?

- Use warm or cold water in your washing machine.  And use clothes washers, dishwashers, and other electric appliances outside of peak hours.

 

Use programmable thermostats to adjust temperature settings according to daily and weekend patterns.

- Cool down a hot house at the end of the day.  That's more efficient than leaving the air conditioner running, even on a high temperature setting.

 

Buy Energy Star® room and central air-conditioning systems, windows, and appliances.

- Heating and insulation:  Have your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system checked regularly; reduce heat loss by ensuring that your home has proper insulation in the walls, ceiling, floors, and attic.

- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

- Turn off computers and game systems when they're not in use. 

 

How can I save energy at work?

- A laptop computer uses less power than a desktop - from 30 to 90 percent less.  And the sleep mode dramatically decreases use.  Also, it takes no extra electricity to power up a computer, nor does it hurt the computer.  But leaving the computer on exposes it to risks such as damage from heat.  So be sure to set your sleep mode to kick in after 10 minutes of inactivity, then turn off your computer if you expect to be away for an hour or more. 

- Selecting energy-efficient office equipment - PCs, monitors, copiers, printers, fax machines - can result in enormous energy savings.

- Energy Star®-labeled office equipment is widely available and offers enormous energy savings - as much as 90 percent for some products.  Energy Star®-labeled office products use about half the electricity of standard equipment.  For example, Energy Star®-labeled computers use 70 percent less electricity than computers without this designation.  Aside from saving energy directly, these products can reduce air-conditioning loads and electromagnetic field emissions from monitors.

 

Resources

- Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and The Women's Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) encourage women to become more aware of clean energy and get the facts about electricity because the choices you make affect you, your family, your job or business, your community and ultimately, the planet.  Go to www.wipp.org to download a free brochure, Women and Clean Power: Electricity Matters.