Lighting the Way to Energy Savings
It might seem a bit cliché to talk about turning out the lights when discussing energy savings, but home lighting can account for up to 10 percent of the average American’s electric bill — $150 a year. It simply doesn’t need to cost that much. There are so many easy and affordable ways to bring down home lighting costs. The Energy Resource Center always works with the Southern Colorado residents we help to find affordable lighting solutions that will save them on their utility bills.
Five Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Colorado Home for Winter
Winter in Colorado is not as cold and snowy as people outside the state think it is, but it still gets cold and we usually have a couple really frigid weeks that will be unbearable if your home isn’t equipped to protect you from the elements. Worse, a really cold winter might not just be uncomfortable if your house isn’t prepared; it could be downright dangerous. The Energy Resource Center helps income-qualified families in Southern Colorado assess their home’s energy efficiency and identify ways to make their houses warmer and safer. Contact the ERC for help.
Which 10 States Use the Most Energy per Capita?
Colorado didn’t make the top 10 list of state energy use per capita. You might notice a pattern among the states that have the highest energy use per person. Most are sparsely populated states, many in the West. Residential energy use is top of mind for most of us who have to pay the bill every month. But industrial facilities frequently use more energy than households. So, states with a lot of industry – and not so many people – can quickly end up with high per capita energy use.
How You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Scientists have linked our greenhouse gas emissions – particularly carbon dioxide – with a host of health and environmental risks. So how do we reduce emissions? While that does involve some major policy changes and alterations to the way global industry and power suppliers work, it also comes down to us and how we live our everyday lives. You can make a difference in your Southern Colorado home
Cool Energy-Saving Inventions of the Future
So, for right now, the best, cheapest ways to make energy-efficiency improvements to your home aren’t all that sexy or exciting. Seal your windows, change your light bulbs, install low-flow faucets, add insulation to your walls and ceiling. These are all things the Energy Resource Center can help Southern Colorado residents do to reduce their utility bills, by the way.
Multimedia Family? Find Out Just How Much Energy Your Devices Use
On their own, your mobile phone, laptop, printer and big screen TV don’t use that much energy… but, add it all up and your multimedia lifestyle adds a chunk to your Southern Colorado energy bill. Of course, we say that knowing full well that there’s no going back. You aren’t going to quit watching television and movies at home or surfing the Internet just to save energy.
New Car Designs Driving Toward a Brighter Energy Future
You can work to improve the energy efficiency of your Colorado home until it’s practically self-sustaining, but you’re not likely to build your own energy-efficient car. So, it’s a good thing innovators are hard at work building better vehicles that could light the way to a much brighter energy future.
How to Keep Your Cool Without AC
Air conditioning can be such a blessing on a blistering summer day and especially at night when the heat can keep you from sleeping comfortably. However, a lot of southern Colorado homes don’t have air conditioning, and the systems can quickly become expensive to run in those houses that do have them. Fortunately, southern Colorado is a good climate for natural cooling during the summer and it’s easy to cut costs with these few simple tips.
How Will The Drake Power Plant Fire Affect You?
Colorado Spring Utilities is raising electricity rates this summer to cover increased costs resulting from a May 5 fire at the Martin Drake power plant expected to leave Drake shuttered through the highest electric demand months of the year. So, how will the Drake power plant fire affect you?
10 Simple Ways to Save Water at Home
Water is one of the most important, if not the most important, resource that humans use. Here in Colorado the climate varies greatly by location and time of year, and at times water might be scarce. Conserving water at home not only helps save this precious resource, but also helps Colorado consumers save money. Here are 10 simple ways to save water and your wallet.