be the E: Be Energy Aware

Did you know?

Heating and cooling account for 45% of home energy use. All the heating and cooling systems in the US emit a combined 150 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. (U.S. D.O.E.)
Generation of electricity produces more pollution than virtually any other single industry in the United States.
U.S. fossil fuel subsidies are more than twice the amount of renewable energy subsidies. Fossil fuels received $72.5 billion in federal subsidies between 2002 and 2008, while renewable energy only received $29 million over the same time period.

Fossil Fuels and their Alternatives

According to the Department of Energy, the United States gets 85% of its power from fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. They provide nearly 2/3 of our electricity and almost all of our transportation. The D.O.E. predicts that even with new technology in the renewable sector, our dependence and use of fossil fuels is likely to increase in the next two decades. This is a problem. Here’s why: http://www.350.org/en/about/science

Take Action!

Quick and Easy

· Control your thermostat. Keep your home at 67 degrees Fahrenheit or less when heating and 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when cooling. Each degree over/under adds 3% to your energy use. Do not place appliances near your thermostat, it senses their heat. Adjusting the temperature will not increase the speed with which it changes. Make use of curtains and fans.

· Install energy efficient lighting.Lighting accounts for 15% of home energy use. If you swap the five incandescent light bulbs you use most for compact fluorescents (CFLs), you can save roughly $60 each year on electricity. Visit Energy Federation Incorporated for bulbs and other products: www.efi.org

· Unplug electronics when not in use. Use power strips to cut power to many devices at once. If it emits light or heat, it is using energy. This single action will cut 5-10% of your energy costs. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/other-gadgets/vampire-power.htm

· Use your appliances efficiently or not at all. Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers work most efficiently when full. Air dry dishes and clothes when possible.

· Learn about all the different types of renewable energies here: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101

Extra Effort

· Get Informed. There are different types of dirty energy, each with their own dangers, as well as different types of renewables.

o Coal often comes from mountain-top removal: http://mountainjustice.org/facts/steps.php

o Natural gas production is relying more and more on hydraulic-fracturing: http://frackaction.com

o Oil extraction results in deforestation, displacement of local peoples and much more: http://www.climateandenergy.org/Explore/DangersOfOilDependence/Index.htm

o Nuclear energy, while not a fossil fuel, has many safety concerns: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/nuclear,

· Buy Energy Star Appliances. When replacing a major appliance you are committing to paying not only the initial coast, but the operating cost. Over the life of the appliance, the energy savings from an efficient appliance can be hundreds of times greater than any initial cost differential.

www.energystar.gov

www.myenergystar.com

www.aceee.org

· Contact your energy company to switch to a renewable option. Use your utility payments to support the development of more renewable energy.

www.conedsolutions.com

www.nyserda.org

www.newwindenergy.com

www.awea.org

www.greenmountain.com

www.communityenergyinc.com

· Fight the use of dirty energy. Reduce your use, encourage others to do the same, and voice the need for change.

www.repoweramerica.org