When you shift your energy usage to off-peak hours, you’re saving money and helping reduce carbon emissions and load on the power grid. Some energy providers now offer new technology to make monitoring and adjusting your energy usage easy.
Shop for energy-efficient products with the ENERGY STAR label to cut your electricity costs and help save the planet.
Money Saving
It’s no secret that utility bills aren’t cheap, and finding ways to save energy around the house can significantly cut those costs, like shopping for the lowest electricity rate plans on websites like Texas power to choose.
It is important to do the little things—turn off the lights when you leave a room, don’t leave the refrigerator door open, or run the dishwasher with a full load—but many other tips can make a big difference.
Look for products labeled with the blue and white Energy Star symbol—the government’s stamp of approval for energy-efficient appliances and equipment—to reduce your electricity use and save money. For example, switching from a traditional light bulb to a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or LED bulb could save you 4 cents per hour for every 40 watts it uses.
Unplugging devices you aren’t using (or “energy vampires”) can help, too. For instance, a computer left plugged in can cost you $30 or more in excess energy each year. Try charging your electronics and appliances in off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower—weekdays before 4 p.m., after 8 p.m., and on weekends.
You can also cut energy waste by sealing air leaks in your home and insulating it properly. According to the Department of Energy, these simple steps allow you to save up to 15% on heating and cooling costs. Some power companies even offer free energy audits.
Innovation
Energy shopping fuels competition among energy providers. This competition, driven by your demand for better deals, leads to improvements in services, more attractive pricing, and the development of innovative technologies.
The energy market becomes more customer-centric, with providers striving to offer not only competitive rates but also superior customer service and incentives to attract and retain customers.
As a result, you, as a consumer, benefit from a more dynamic and innovative energy market that continually seeks to meet your evolving needs while embracing cleaner and more sustainable practices.
Environment Friendly
Using less energy at home is not only great for your wallet, but it’s also great for the environment. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to climate change that leads to heat waves, drought, abnormal weather patterns, and more natural disasters.
When you shop for electricity, look for the ENERGY STAR label that helps you find appliances and lighting that use less energy. The EPA has set strict standards for energy savings, and only those products that meet them earn the label.
The labels are easy to read, so you can quickly compare the energy use of similar models in the store. The ENERGY STAR label is also conveniently integrated into the EnergyGuide label on many appliances and lighting fixtures, making it even easier to choose energy-efficient options.
Another way to help the environment is to invest your energy savings into a sustainable home or business upgrade that uses renewable “green” electricity sources like wind and solar. These can reduce air and water pollution, avoid negative impacts on critical ecosystems (like the obstacles a hydroelectric dam would impose on migrating salmon), and relieve stress on the power grid.
Finally, shopping for electricity is an excellent opportunity to earmark your savings to pay other bills that may be coming due soon — like a new car or paying off high-speed internet. Remember that you must live in a deregulated market to do so.
Save the Planet
Using less energy isn’t just good for your wallet; it’s also good for the environment. For example, buying appliances and home electronics that carry the blue and white Energy Star label helps reduce greenhouse gases and other air, water, and soil pollutants.
By reducing energy consumption, the Energy Star program saves consumers $430 billion annually and cuts emissions equivalent to those from about 670 coal-fired power plants in a year.
Another way to help the planet is by switching your electricity provider to one that uses renewable “green” sources for generating power. You can even find electricity plans that guarantee as much as 100 percent of their power comes from renewable sources.
Other ways to help include avoiding flying, driving an electric car or hybrid, and purchasing recycled products. Investing in socially responsible mutual funds and stocks is another option. Washing out and reusing plastic bags for bread, food, and grocery store bags and using cloth baggies is another easy way to reduce waste.
Transparency
Choosing energy providers with recognized environmental certifications guarantees that your energy comes from sustainable sources and adheres to specific environmental standards. This alignment with eco-friendly practices fosters transparency and accountability within the energy market.
By making informed choices about your energy consumption’s environmental impact, you can actively contribute to a more sustainable world. Energy shopping empowers you to align your energy decisions with your personal values, making it easier to support the transition to cleaner and greener energy sources and practices.
