Your spot for energy saving tips and news!

 

Eco-Yard

Sustainable Landscaping: 5 Eco-Friendly Yard Ideas

By changing a few of your habits, you can great a green yardscape that protects the environment and helps you save money.

Sustainable Landscaping: 5 Eco-Friendly Yard Ideas

Published:

House on sunny day with well-tailored landscaping

To have a truly eco-friendly yard, you need to consider both the resources you put into lawncare and the output of waste in your lawn and gardens. But did you know that making a few green choices outside can actually help you save money on your energy bills inside, too? Follow these tips to transform your home's landscape and save money.

Water responsibly

Practice xeriscaping — a process that reduces the need for irrigation — to save water. This can be done by placing plants that have similar water requirements together. You can also swap out more water-hungry grasses for drought-resistant variants, and utilize succulents and native plants in your landscape design.

Opt for eco-friendly materials

Reusing concrete and glass from other projects can reduce the carbon dioxide produced during the manufacturing process. Choose adobe or terra cotta bricks — which don't require kilns — and select stones found inland rather than in quarries. Avoid toxins by staying away from treated lumber, artificially dyed mulch and rubber mulch.

Plant a tree

Reducing energy use for air conditioning can be as simple as strategically planting a tree in your yard. Shading your home from the summer sun can reduce temperatures by up to 9 degrees. Choose the best tree based on the shape of your home and the height, shadow size and growth rate of the tree.

Cut down on chemicals

Fertilizers and herbicides that strip the soil of nutrients and harm the environments aren't necessary to maintain a healthy lawn. Instead, use organic fertilizer and natural pest control. Insecticidal soaps and oil sprays can take care of mites and mealybugs, and ladybugs can naturally manage aphids.

Utilize solar power

If you host a lot of outdoor gatherings or enjoy sitting outside at night, you'll likely want to add some outdoor lighting. Rather than relying on electrical lighting, consider adding a solar-powered system. It won't require underground wiring, is easier to install, and saves electricity by charging naturally during the day.

With these tips, you're well on your way to a greener and healthier lawn that can protect the environment and help you save money, too.

Spring Updates?

Call 811 Before You Dig

It's important to call 811 before you dig. But who's behind the 811 number and what do those little colored flags mean?

Call 811 Before You Dig

Published:

Get Smart About Plugging In

6 Clever Things You Can Do with a Smart Plug

Whether you're a smart device expert or a home automation newbie, smart plugs are a great addition that can make your home more efficient.

6 Clever Things You Can Do with a Smart Plug

Check out these creative ways you can use smart plugs around the house to save money and make your life easier.

Published:

Smart plug

Whether you're a smart device expert or a home automation newbie, smart plugs are a great addition that can make your home more energy efficient. Their advanced features can help you save a little extra time and money, too. Here are six creative ways you can use smart plugs around the house.

1. Charge multiple types of devices

Whether you have a two-prong, three-prong or USB plug at the end of a cord, smart plugs can handle them all. Smart plugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some ideal for space-saving situations and others fully equipped to handle a variety of appliances and devices.

2. Pinpoint energy-wasting appliances

Want to know exactly how much it costs to run your appliances and devices? Smart plugs can track how much electricity your appliances use, helping you determine if it's time to upgrade to a more efficient model.

3. Connect with other smart devices

You can get the most out of your smart plug and control your devices from anywhere by connecting it with a smartphone app or a voice assistant like Amazon's Alexa, Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant.

4. Keep your home safe

Smart plugs can reduce the chance of electrical fires by automatically switching off appliances like space heaters and electric blankets. To ward off burglars, you can set timers for lights near windows to make it seem like your home is occupied when you're away.

5. Start cooking before you get home

Want to get a head start on dinner? Plug your slow cooker into a smart plug, prep a meal and then use a connected smartphone app to turn on the slow cooker from anywhere. That way, you'll have a perfectly stewed meal waiting for you when you get home.

6. Make holidays more jolly

Plug your festive light displays into a smart plug so you can create a schedule and have them turn on and off at set times. Or, make Halloween a little spookier by turning lamps on and off through a connected smartphone app.

Smart plugs won't cost you much, and they're easy to install — just plug them into an outlet, and you're ready to go. Regardless of how you intend to use your smart plug, it's undeniable that investing in this helpful technology is a wise move.

Energy Saving Tips for Businesses

7 Energy-Saving Habits Your Business Should Adopt

Small changes, big impact. Discover seven energy-saving habits that will help reduce your operating costs.

7 Energy-Saving Habits Your Business Should Adopt

Small changes, big impact. Discover seven energy-saving habits that will help reduce your operating costs.

Published:

Businesswoman in office

Many businesses operate within commercial buildings smaller than 50,000 square feet, which account for nearly half of U.S. commercial building energy use. If you’re looking to reduce your business’s carbon footprint and save on costs, adopting energy-efficient practices can be a game-changer. The good news? You don’t always need to make significant investments or undertake drastic changes. Here are seven affordable energy-saving measures that you can implement.

1. Turn off lights

Installing LED lights will save your business the most energy, but no matter what type of lights you have, you must ensure they’re not left on in empty spaces. Make it a habit to remind staff to turn off lights when they’re the last one leaving the room or building at the end of the day. For added convenience, consider installing occupancy sensors and timer controls.

2. Use power strips

Phantom energy — the power used by electronics turned off but still plugged in — can add up over time. To combat this, use smart power strips, which automatically cut power to devices not in use. It’s a straightforward solution that can reduce your overall energy consumption.

3. Adjust thermostats

Heating and cooling can significantly impact energy bills. Implement strategies to optimize temperature settings, such as programming thermostats to adjust automatically during non-working hours or setting them a few degrees lower in winter and higher in summer. Zone-based heating and cooling can further decrease unnecessary energy use in unoccupied areas.

4. Conduct periodic energy audits

Regular audits help you understand how your business uses energy. They pinpoint inefficiencies and recommend changes that can lead to substantial savings. By scheduling periodic audits, you can stay on top of your energy consumption and make informed decisions to enhance efficiency.

5. Prioritize natural light

Maximizing natural light in your workspace can reduce the need for artificial lighting. Position workspaces near windows and skylights, and keep walls lightly-colored to reflect daylight.

6. Invest in smart technology

Energy-efficient companies often embrace advanced technologies to optimize their energy use. This includes smart thermostats, which optimize energy savings by automatically adjusting building temperatures based on your operating schedule, while also provide advanced features, such as remote control. Another example is smart LED lighting systems, which can be integrated with sensors and timers to automatically adjust lighting based on occupancy or time of day.

7. Maintain equipment

The equipment and appliances in your facility use a lot of energy and neglected maintenance can really cost you. Have your HVAC system inspected regularly by a qualified professional and establish a routine preventive maintenance program for all energy-using equipment. You'll not only save energy, but you'll reap additional benefits in longer equipment lifespan and lower repair costs.

By adopting these practical habits, you’ll join the ranks of savvy, energy-efficient companies, enhancing both your profitability and sustainability.