New Year, New Eco-Friendly Habits
01/25/2024
A new year is the perfect time to develop energy-efficient habits — and to discover how simple yet rewarding these habits can be. By implementing daily practices that reduce household energy usage, you’ll lower your energy bills and put money back in your pocket. You’ll also contribute to a more sustainable future.
Virginia Energy Sense is here to offer practical tips you can follow for an energy-efficient 2024.
Conduct a home energy audit.
A home energy audit can point toward improvements in efficiency — and big savings. In a do-it-yourself home energy audit, you’ll take inventory of potential leaks, excess electricity use, and inefficient appliances and equipment to uncover opportunities to save energy and money. Download Virginia Energy Sense’s home energy checklist to take inventory of your entire home. home energy checklist to take inventory of your entire home.
If you don’t want to conduct a home energy assessment yourself, you can leave it to the professionals. Most professional energy audits are not free, but they can save you time, energy, and money in the long run. You can also take advantage of the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick, which compares your home’s annual energy usage with that of similar homes.
Set achievable energy-efficiency goals.
Brainstorming eco-friendly habits to adopt in the year ahead? Consider browsing the resources on VirginiaEnergySense.org. These can help you set specific energy efficiency priorities for 2024 — such as lowering your monthly energy costs or upgrading to energy-efficient appliances.
Choose energy-efficient products.
When it’s time to upgrade gadgets and appliances, consider going with the most energy-efficient options. Virginia Energy Sense offers recommendations for energy-efficient lighting, electronics, and other devices. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when shopping for new appliances, as these products meet guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can also use the ENERGY STAR product finder tool to discover ENERGY STAR-certified products.
Get eco-friendly inspiration in your inbox.
Once you have set your goals and are ready to take action, track your habits over time in a journal or on your phone. You may notice a lower energy bill in the first month! We know how hard it can be to stick to resolutions. By signing up for our newsletter, you’ll get energy saving tips sent directly to your inbox and stay up to date on the latest from Virginia Energy Sense.