As we approach the close of Energy Awareness Month remember it is never too late to start improving energy efficiency whether in your home or in you life.
With tax rebates about to end, possibly forever, this is the last opportunity to reduce the cost of replacing windows or doors or insulating that attic.
The most beneficial investment a homeowner can make is to conduct an energy audit. This will give you a firm handle on where your home is losing energy and the improvements you can make to correct the problems. These problems don’t have to be handled all at one time. The important thing is now you have an idea of how to make adjustments to reduce energy loss while contemplating replacing aging systems with more efficient new systems.
As a way to boost energy awareness, Energy Star created a video challenge as part of their Take the Pledge program to increase participation from Americans in all walks of life. Take the Pledge boasts that Americans participating in the Pledge have amassed $793,107, 376 in energy savings, eliminated 10,243,261,274 lbs in greenhouse gases and have saved 6,008,157,595 kilowatt hours of electricity.
The short videos in the video challenge are creative, instructive and entertaining. View a sample of these below:
You can view all the videos on the Energy Star Take the Pledge page.
Making changes, however small, in your daily activities to reduce your carbon footprint make a huge difference over time. Changing your light bulbs to compact florescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs is one place to start.
But like many efforts to make substantive change – it starts with YOU!
Vicky Gallagher is Supervisor, Corporate Marketing Communications for CertainTeed Corporation
