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Biden Administration’s $2.8B Budget Support for Environment Demonstrates Value of Responsible Energy Production on Federal Lands, Waters

Road Trip

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) released the following statement of support for the Biden Administration’s proposed $2.8 billion budget allocation to boost our environment and national parks, the large majority of which will be funded by revenue earned from renewable and traditional energy production on federal lands and waters.

“The Biden Administration’s proposed investment in America’s national parks, coastal conservation and our environment, using funds made possible by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA), is the right move,” CEA Federal Affairs Adviser Michael Zehr said. “Nearly all of the money provided through these laws comes from revenue earned by the federal government from renewable and traditional energy development on federal lands and waters.”

“This is a direct connection between responsible energy development in places like the Gulf of Mexico, on offshore wind farms, at solar installations and even geothermal operations on our national lands,” Zehr said. “It also demonstrates how energy production and the environment are symbiotic when our policies are balanced among equally important priorities.”

“We urge the Biden Administration to seek a balanced approach and lift the open-ended moratorium on new federal leases. The revenue generated by some of the least carbon-intensive, safe operations in the world, such as those in the Gulf, create benefits far beyond the provision of reliable, affordable energy,” he said. “In this case, it will create jobs, boost our environment and provide an estimated $123 million in GOMESA distributions to support coastal conservation, hurricane preparedness and other important work in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

The Beauty and Science of Oceans

Father and son walking along the beach

Oceans were created billions of years ago and at one point, the water we see today was actually a gas until the Earth cooled below 212 degrees Fahrenheit. However, oceans are more than the bodies of water we swim in, travel by, or fly over today. They produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, absorb 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere and the U.S. ocean economy alone produces $282 billion in goods and services.

You may not know though that a special group of scientists called geophysicists uphold an important role in protecting the oceans we rely on every day. Want to know the highlights of how they make a huge impact? Keep reading below:

  1. They’re important to energy conservation. Geophysicists conduct seismic surveys, a safe scientific tool that helps with: energy exploration, understanding natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, evaluating sand deposits for coastline re-nourishment and locating carbon sequestration and offshore alternative energy sites.
  2. They’re also important to energy modernization. As we work to modernize energy of all forms, geophysical surveys help by providing information for assessing coastal erosion, determining sites for offshore wind farms and exploring for minerals for alternative energy technologies.
  3. They protect marine life. Geophysical crews work daily to clean up our oceans and watch for marine mammals in trouble. Associations like the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) have also been hard at work to protect marine life with projects like the Ghost Net & Marine Debris Removal Initiative, an ocean debris removal project that creates a healthier ocean environment by clearing marine debris, one of the greatest dangers to marine life.
  4. They play an important role in combating climate change. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is a process through which carbon dioxide emissions can be effectively re-used productively or stored so that they do not enter the atmosphere. This process relies on the identification of geological structures appropriate for carbon storage. Geophysical technology is essential to the identification and long-term maintenance of these geological structures.

New Hampshire Legislature Scores Bipartisan Victory to Secure Energy Service and Infrastructure for Families, Small Businesses

Concord, New Hampshire – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, applauded the New Hampshire Legislature for overwhelmingly passing Senate Bill 86, bipartisan legislation that includes specific provisions to protect the rights of consumers by prohibiting municipalities from adopting energy service bans.

“Thank you, members of the New Hampshire Legislature, for supporting common-sense, bipartisan legislation that will ensure that our families and small businesses have the right to choose for themselves how they heat their homes and power their business operations,” CEA Northeast Director Marc Brown said.

“With one in five New Hampshire households using natural gas as part of a diverse mix of resources for home heating, energy service bans on consumers and businesses could lead to serious service interruptions and significant increases in Granite State’s energy bills. An energy ban could also require the replacement of major appliances, which could cost thousands of dollars for families and businesses – a cost burden that would be devastating for those living at or below the poverty level.”

“New Hampshire joins at least 11 other states that have either passed or are pursuing similar pro-consumer and pro-energy legislation. CEA applauds the New Hampshire Legislature for protecting consumers, families and businesses’ right to keep the energy services they want and for helping to get New Hampshire and the country to a cleaner future.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

CEA’s Top 5 Favorite Energy Stories This Week – May 27

The Biden Administration this week announced an agreement with California Governor Gavin Newson to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California, which will be key in developing a diverse U.S. energy mix.

A federal judge ruled Friday that the Dakota Access pipeline can continue operating while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finishes its extensive environmental review.

Memorial Day Weekend is just around the corner! For those of us hitting the road this weekend, we can expect higher gas prices compared to years past. This is due in part to the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, although prices are beginning to recover.

Kick-off your weekend with our top five stories in energy below!

 

Father teaching his son cycling at park

5Solar power in unexpected places

Developers and architects are getting more creative with incorporating solar power into nontraditional structures. Intelligent Living reports of the photovoltaic bike pathway which provides light at night and generates energy for the public to use to recharge their phones or e-bikes.

Building Under Construction with Crane

4Buildings of the future could be giant batteries

University researchers in Sweden have published new research showing that by incorporating minor tweaks in the concrete used in buildings and infrastructure projects around the world, the structure could used as a rechargeable battery. Fast Company reports that by embedding short carbon fibers, an iron-coated mesh of carbon fiber, and another mesh coated in nickel into typical concrete can make it conduct small amounts of electricity.

Plastic granulate in a plastic waste recycling plant

3Solar-powered car made from trash hits the streets of Sierra Leone

A 24-year old self-taught inventor and engineer, Emmanuel Mansaray, spent three years building a solar-powered car made of trash, dubbed the ‘Imagination car’. Face2FaceAfrica reports the vehicle can reach speeds of 15km per hour.

Trash in Stadium

2New recycling technology turns plastic waste into energy

A UK-based technology company is converting end-of-life plastics into hydrogen. Power Technology explains that two tonnes of hydrogen can be produced daily via this process.

Tidal Power Generation

1The ‘world’s most powerful tidal turbine’ heads to Scottish waters

Last month, the U.K.’s marine energy sector took a huge step forward as the Orbital O2 made its way to the Orkney Islands, north of mainland Scotland. CNBC reports that the tidal turbine can produce enough electricity to meet the needs of around 2,000 U.K. homes each year.

 

New York’s Future Energy Solutions: FAQs

Albany New York Skyline

Why does New York need more clean energy infrastructure?

By 2030, the state law known as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act or CLCPA will require that New York meet 70% of its power needs with renewable energy. By 2040, New York must generate 100% of its electricity with carbon-free energy. Yet today in 2021, for a state of 20 million people, New York only meets roughly 25% of its needs with renewables. Of that 25%, hydropower makes up nearly 80% – the vast majority of the state’s renewable power generation. In December 2020, non-hydro power renewables only comprised 6% of New York’s electricity mix, according to federal data. To meet these ambitious requirements in such a short amount of time, for a state as large as New York will be extremely challenging without more options that provide large quantities of clean power.

To meet this ambitious future, the state has also required:

• 6,000 megawatts (MW) of solar by 2025
• 3,000 megawatts (MW) of energy storage by 2030
• 9,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind by 2035

Renewable development doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) estimates that if everything goes as planned, projects can take between three to five years. That’s assuming there is full community support and no project opposition. And there are challenges to consider, like where they will be located, how much land will be required to generate the power needed, navigating the unpredictable regulatory and permitting processes, including interconnecting projects to the existing transmission grid and working with communities that may be affected by the construction and operating impacts. Regardless of the energy type, infrastructure projects are prone to delay and litigation, adding to the development timeline.

So, how do we get to where we need to be by 2030? The answer is becoming clearer – New York’s future energy portfolio needs to incorporate large-scale hydropower solutions to have a chance to meet its CLCPA requirements.

What is New York’s current energy mix? Can hydropower help meet the state’s requirements?

New York is quite a dichotomy in and of itself, with large volumes of renewables used upstate while 70% of downstate power is provided by traditional fuel. Further, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydroelectricity have provided more than nine-tenths of the state’s net electricity generation since 2012, and other renewable resources have provided the rest. Five of the state’s 10 largest power plants are natural gas-fired, and more than half of New York’s generating capacity is from natural gas-fired power plants. Outside of natural gas, about one-third of New York’s electricity came from nuclear power in 2019.

New York is perfectly situated to expand the use of hydro along with other promising clean energy technologies if it plans to balance its energy resources to provide power to New Yorkers downstate. Roughly 20% of New York’s power generation comes from hydropower and generates more power from hydro than any state east of the Rocky Mountains. New York also has robust imports of Canadian hydropower that provide 5% of the state’s electric demand and 20% of its renewable energy needs. In December 2020, nearly 80% of New York’s renewable power came from existing hydropower, and non-hydro renewables only accounted for 6% of the state’s electricity over that same period.

In general, the use of hydropower and other non-hydro power renewables is confined to the upstate and western portions of the state. Bottlenecks on the transmission system prevent the delivery of these low emissions to downstate areas including New York City, where consumers rely on fossil fuel-based electricity for nearly 70% of its supply.
In addition to the new climate requirements, a significant portion of New York’s existing nuclear fleet is expected to go offline – meaning the state will need significantly more clean energy to meet its goals. For example, in April 2021, New York City will lose roughly one-third of the Downstate region’s power needs, and its largest source of emissions-free power, when the Indian Point nuclear power plant closes. This closure will increase New York City’s reliance on fossil fuels for electricity to nearly 100%.

That means New York has less than nine years to generate 70% of its electricity with renewable energy. Today, that number stands at roughly 25% with nearly 80% of that figure coming from New York’s existing hydropower. New York needs an “all-of-the-above” approach, which includes all clean technologies. Large-scale hydropower will complement the buildout and optimization of wind and solar power. As an always-on option for consumers, it supports increased quantities of intermittent resources.

Can we meet New York’s requirements by simply adding more renewable energy?

CLCPAMeeting New York’s ambitious renewable generation and emissions targets will be a massive undertaking. Federal data showed that New York’s non-hydro renewable power generation in December 2020 was only 6%. Even if all of New York’s proposed and contracted wind and solar projects come online with no delays, there will still be a substantial shortfall to meet the state’s 70% renewable power requirement by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Department of Public Service estimated this shortfall to be over 24,000 gigawatt-hours per year, which is nearly 17% of the expected electricity load for the entire state in 2030.

New York’s offshore wind and solar developments are a promising start, but the fact remains that many of these projects will take several years to permit and come to fruition. Even if we tried to meet New York’s requirements with renewable projects and removed the uncertainty around building them (including the time needed for federal and state environmental reviews and mitigation plans, permits, and much more) it will still be a challenge.

Studies show onshore utility-scale renewable power projects require at least 10 times more land area as compared with traditional fossil fuel-based generating technologies because of energy density issues. With that in mind, consider that more than half of the state of New York is occupied by forest and woodland, and farmland accounts for nearly one-quarter of the total land area. Not to mention the significant density in New York City and Long Island. To reduce drag and turbulence, onshore wind farms need significant amounts of space between turbines. A standard rotor diameter of a turbine is roughly 260 feet and it needs approximately seven rotor diameters of spacing. To account for equipment and proper spacing between panels, a 1-megawatt solar farm typically needs 6–8 acres, according to GTM Research.

Meeting just 50% of New York’s renewable generation by 2030 – not the 70% mandated by CLCPA – with onshore solar and wind would require an estimated 323 square miles of land – the equivalent size of Seneca County. This equivalency estimate also assumes an apple-to-apples comparison with the generating efficiency of an always-on source of power generation, which renewables by themselves are not capable of offering. In addition, it does not take into account the tremendous amounts of land that will be needed for siting New York’s first offshore wind projects.

For example, the world’s largest offshore wind farm in the United Kingdom requires 892 square miles of ocean. Currently, the US has only one offshore wind farm, which is a 30-megawatt project off the coast of Rhode Island; by comparison, New York intends to site 9,000 megawatts. Each of these examples illustrates the vast amount of space needed in a state with many competing interests.

If New York ever has a hope of meeting its CLCPA requirements, the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring on substantial supplies of emissions-free energy in the near term is supporting additional transmission for hydro. That’s a guarantee for households they will have always-on power that can help integrate and optimize the other long-term renewable energy options and technologies.

What is the benefit of hydropower for New York and its consumers?

Hydropower is a proven and near-term renewable solution for New York to ensure the state has enough affordable, reliable energy supplies available to maintain the grid with enough clean energy to power the lives of families, small businesses, and communities. The following benefits make hydropower a sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solution to New York’s energy future:

  • Hydropower is one of the lowest emission-generating options available anywhere on par with nuclear and wind.
  • At US $0.05/kWh, hydroelectricity remains the lowest-cost source of electricity worldwide.
  • Hydropower rates are stable and are not subject to the price volatility of commodities.
  • Reservoir hydro is a renewable resource capable of providing baseload (like nuclear) and load following (like natural gas) –it has the advantage of being “always-on” and can offer continuous generation.
  • It can help to be a clean energy replacement for retiring baseload generation and it to help back up other intermittent sources of electricity like solar or wind.
  • Large-scale hydropower can complement the buildout and optimization of additional wind and solar power for the grid, which have lower capacity, factors because the wind is not always blowing, and the sun is not always shining.
  • In fact, a single, new, large-scale transmission project between Quebec and NYC could provide over 33% of the remaining renewable energy needed to achieve New York’s 2030 renewable energy target based on recent estimates by NYSERDA and the NY Department of Public Service. This is especially important as the largest emissions-free source of electricity in Downstate New York is going offline in April 2021.

You can download the Power of Water – New York – FAQs

Power of Water – New York – Myth vs. Reality

NY State of Play here.

Biden Administration Applauded for Advancing Offshore Wind Development in the Pacific by Leading Consumer Energy and Environment Advocate

Offshore wind-farm with transfer vessel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Energy Alliance, the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for families and businesses, today praised the Biden Administration for announcing an agreement with California Governor Gavin Newsom to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California.

“Consumer Energy Alliance applauds the Biden Administration’s announcement today expanding areas for offshore wind development to our west coast. We believe that expanded offshore wind development is consistent with our strong support for environmentally responsible energy development of all forms of energy – wind, wave, oil, natural gas, geothermal, critical metals – in U.S. waters. Diverse, reliable, affordable domestic energy supplies are essential to American farmers, families and small businesses,” CEA Federal Affairs Advisor Michael Zehr said.

“The United States is an energy rich country with a history of technological innovation and environmental protection. We have the energy resources, both traditional and renewable, to supply ourselves and the world with abundant, affordable, and environmentally responsible power for generations to come. Policies that allow us to harness these resources from federal lands and waters will benefit energy consumers while improving our environment.”

“We look forward to working with the Biden Administration to advance development of more American energy along with the construction of modern critical energy infrastructure needed to support our economy now and into future.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

Memorial Day Travel 2021: Prices You Can Expect at the Pump

Road Trip

Memorial Day traditionally marks the start of summer. Now, as we approach that weekend and head into the season with more people vaccinated and cities and states opening back up, many Americans are ready to get out and travel. A big question for many people is: what does travel look like after a year of staying home?

A popular travel option is being able to load up the car, stock up on your favorite snacks, and take a road trip. This year, more than 37 million people are expected to hit the road. A 60 percent increase compared to last year. Right n­ow, popular travel destinations include being out in nature, visiting our national parks, and utilizing open spaces as people continue to distance from others as life slowly transitions to a post-pandemic world. However, with easing restrictions in most places, many travelers are still opting for traditional destinations that include Las Vegas, Mexico, Florida, and Hawaii.

For those who are looking to travel by car, the cost to get there is going to come at a much higher price compared to years past, literally.

The forecasted national average price per gallon for those looking to venture out is more than $3 per gallon for regular fuel. This marks a dollar increase from last year and the highest Memorial Day weekend average since 2014, when it was $3.66. A big factor in the price increase is the recent cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which provides nearly half of the East Coast’s fuel supply and caused prices to rise as well as gas shortages throughout the Southeast. While prices are expected to recover by Memorial Day weekend, consumers should still be prepared to pay a higher price at the pump.

If you are one of the millions of Americans who decide to hit the road, remember that it is always important to buckle up and exercise caution on the roads. So stay safe, do not drink and drive and share your travel experiences (including how much gas costs in your area) with us either on Facebook or Twitter!

Be Wary of Politically-Charged Environmental Extremists Intent on Shutting Down Line 5 at the Expense of Real People, Says Leading Energy and Environment Advocate

Pipeline construction with welder

Lansing, MI – Consumer Energy Alliance, the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for families and businesses, today responded to a new ad campaign announced by several extremists focused on spreading misinformation about the Line 5 pipeline.

“This latest politically-charged effort by extremists from California shows that they are more interested in reckless policies made than caring for our Great Lakes. Line 5 is not just about Michigan, it is the 33,700 people across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania who will be out of work and the more than $20.8 billion in economic losses those states would suffer at the very least,” CEA Midwest Executive Director Chris Ventura said.

“These extremists groups are willing to stop at nothing to tarnish this safe and environmentally responsible infrastructure that’s been in service for decades to stir political division and create tension in communities that are already suffering from the effects of COVID-19 and an overly divisive election cycle.”

“If this is really about upholding the ‘Biden Standard’, we’re curious what that means, since the Administration recently supported the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which will run 745 miles under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. If these groups are truly concerned about leaks, why are they in opposition to improving the 5-mile segment of Line 5 that crosses the Straits of Mackinac by burying it up to 250 feet below the lakebed, in solid bedrock and encased in reinforced concrete – all at zero taxpayer expense? It is surprising that they cheer for economic harm for their fellow citizens and ally Canada, while the Administration granted support to a geopolitical rival’s pipeline. This seems backwards to us.”

“We’ve been urging people across the country to listen to the science, and while agitators like the Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo played a scientist in The Avengers, he is not a scientist in real-life. Any true environmentalist would support improving this line, but following the announcement of this campaign it is clear that these shrill individuals aren’t concerned about the science, the efficacy or the safety – they are more concerned with creating a sideshow at the expense of real people across the region.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org

CEA’s Top 5 Favorite Energy Stories This Week – May 21

Earlier this week 14 senators introduced a bill that would re-impose sanctions on entities involved in the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline after the Biden administration announced it would waive them earlier this week, a move that made many question why he would treat a Russian gas pipeline better than the Keystone XL in America.

President Biden issued an executive order yesterday that directs agencies to launch or expand efforts to analyze and lessen economic risks stemming from climate change. The good news is that the U.S. is already on the right track to meeting our climate goals. CEA found that U.S. emissions decreased across the board from 1990-2019, and that just last year global energy-related CO2 emissions declined 5.8%.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose sharply, but were positioned for an overall fall as investors braced for the return of Iranian crude supplies after officials said Iran and world powers made progress on a nuclear deal. Overall analysts remain upbeat about fuel demand recovery this summer as vaccinations globally would permit more people to travel.

Speaking of travel, be sure to check out this week’s energy news as you finish making your Memorial Day plans!

Charging Electric Vehicles

5Recycling metal from old cars

A global lithium miner wants to extract more battery metal from old cars as demand surges and aging electric vehicles are traded in. E&E News explains why companies are trying to grab a share of the market for recovered battery materials as lithium supplies show signs of constricting.

Researching Manufacturing Solar Cells

4What do sandwiches and solar share?

The design of next-generation solar panels can now be improved by using thin films used in some perovskite solar cells – something that closely resembles a sandwich. Sci Tech Daily highlights how new research has shown a benefit for solar films being stacked in a sandwich-like structure, where two layers of the same type (the bread) are surrounded by one central layer (the filling).

Electric Truck At Charging Station

3Prototypes for future trucks are unveiled

A prototype of a truck for future electric technology was unveiled this week as part of a company’s plan to focus on hydrogen and battery trucks. Associated Press reports on how companies are looking at how battery and hydrogen-powered trucks could be competitive with diesels on cost later this decade.

Geothermal Heating

2Next-gen geothermal energy

Google announced its plans to develop next-generation geothermal technologies to help cut their reliance on carbon. CNET highlights how the company will turn to geothermal energy to power data centers and infrastructure throughout Nevada. 

Solar Installation

1Frameless solar panels for the future

Researchers have discovered a new way to install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of commercial buildings. New Atlas breaks down how frameless and lightweight panels can be adhered directly to a roof.

Creating a Smarter Home on a Smaller Budget

Incandescent Lightbulb

People talk a lot about smart homes and smart devices. A smart home comprises devices that are connected through the internet, and usually offers a lot of convenience. They can also be monitored remotely. Some of the systems that can be managed include heating and lighting systems.

However, there is a huge difference between a smart home that offers hi-tech, aesthetic upgrades and one smart devices that delivers convenience with the added benefit of long-term financial and (even better) energy efficient investments. This article tackles the concept of the differences between smart devices versus a smart ecosystem but we want to add every day examples of changes you can make whether you’re renting, not in the market to buy or simply not ready to shell out thousands of dollars in smart upgrades.

Lights

Taking the time to evaluate the lights in your home and swap them out for energy efficient replacements can go a long way toward a smarter home. Common lightbulbs now sold in the United States typically use about 25%-80% less energy compared to the incandescent bulbs that were widely used before. The next time you’re shopping for lights, look for halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), or light emitting diodes (LEDs) with the Energy Star certification. These bulbs meet newer energy-friendly standards and while they are slightly higher in price, they last significantly longer than traditional bulbs and won’t need to be replaced as often.

While changing out lights may seem like a little change, it can save lots of money. Especially for businesses looking to reduce costs. For Target, Starbucks and Hermes, they saved millions just by switching to LEDs. Sometimes the little things go a long way.

Appliances

If you’re currently in the market for a new appliance, a great place to start your search is with appliance with the Energy Star certification. Holistically, Energy Star is a program between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy with requirements and specifications that helps consumers save money while protecting the environment with energy efficient products and practices.

Not ready to swap out all or any of your appliances yet? Not to worry. There are a number of energy saving tips that help your home work smarter and not harder throughout the year.

Heating and Cooling

If you already have a smart thermostat in your house, you probably know the benefits that come with automated regulation and how it can save energy and money. Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats learn your temperature preferences and establish a schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when you are asleep or away from home. An extra bonus is that geofencing can enable your smart thermostat to know when you’re on the way home and automatically adjust your home’s temperature to your preference.

Smart thermostats can be a harder option to implement if you’re renting a home or living in an apartment. However, if your apartment doesn’t have a smart thermostat or your landlord isn’t willing to install one in your house, there’s the traditional (and manual) option of adjusting the heat or air before you leave your house for long periods of time. This alternative still makes great strides in reducing your energy bills and usage.

Electronics

A common routine for many of us before we go to bed is to charge our smartphones, tablets, reading devices, etc. Did you know though that most devices only need a couple hours to fully recharge? The end result is that small amounts of energy are unnecessarily drawn during the hours you’re still sleeping.

This may not seem like a big deal but when put into perspective the current number of smartphone users in the world today is 3.8 billion. Over time that adds up to a significant amount of energy emissions. A small and inexpensive way to help curb your own usage is with timer controls that can automatically shut off lights, appliances and other devices off when they’re not in use. Cost-friendly options can be found for under $20.

There’s a lot that goes into creating a smarter home. By rethinking and updating the way we think about what a ‘smart’ home is, there are small steps that get us to the greater goal of being more energy conscious and efficient.

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