Don’t Waste Energy or Money: Be Energy Efficient

Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; or E-mail: Renee Whitener

Lenoir, N.C., (October 9, 2009) – We use energy every day, whether we’re at home, school, work or play. Unfortunately, much of the energy we use is wasted due to inefficiency. There are a number of simple—often very inexpensive—steps you can take to be more energy efficient and help reduce monthly electric bills. Here are a few easy steps Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is suggesting to make your home more energy efficient before winter arrives:

1. Find and seal air leaks inside and around the exterior of your home. Check around fixtures that penetrate walls, such as exhaust fans and electrical outlets. Look for unfilled gaps near dryer vents, chimneys and faucet pipes.
2. Seal leaks between moving parts with weather stripping, such as between a door and its frame. Caulk cracks between windows and walls, as well as around door frames.
3. When shopping for new windows or doors, look for ones with the Energy Star label.
4. Make sure attics and flooring above unheated areas, such as crawl spaces and the garage, are properly insulated.
5. Have your furnace checked by a professional to make sure it’s operating safely and at its optimal level. In addition, change your furnace filters according to manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Have a programmable thermostat installed to automatically raise and lower home temperatures for energy savings day and night.
7. Survey your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. These lamps can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60-100 watt bulbs used several hours or more a day.
8. Do your own energy efficiency audit by visiting www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and clicking on “Energy Tips” and then “Home Energy Calculator”. You might discover more simple ways to save energy and money customized to your home!

Some information from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) www.aceee.org