For EEI and our member companies, every day is Earth Day. As our industry leads the clean energy transition, electric companies are reducing carbon emissions, integrating more renewables into the energy mix, and practicing environmental conservation while building new electrical infrastructure.

As the industry works toward a resilient clean energy future for the customers and communities we serve, there are simple ways we all can make a difference at home—and potentially save money. Here are some quick steps you can take to conserve energy and reduce your environmental footprint. 

1.) Make your home more energy efficient. Did you know that simple adjustments around your home can help you save electricity – and money? One of the most impactful changes you can make is installing thermal insulation. Weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows can limit air leaks that could account for between 15 and 30 percent of a home’s heating and cooling energy requirements. And when you purchase a new appliance, be sure to buy one with an Energy Star® label to ensure you are getting an energy-saving option. 

Check your local electric company’s website and read EEI’s booklet “More Than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill” for more energy efficiency tips. The Inflation Reduction Act also has provided federal incentives for residential customers to make energy efficiency upgrades. Visit the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) website for more information.

2.) Avoid “energy vampires.” Leaving devices such as televisions, laptops, and cell phone chargers plugged in while not in use can waste electricity and lead to higher electric bills. According to DOE, these “energy vampires” can add an average of $100 to $200 to your bill annually. To combat this issue, unplug devices that don’t need to be consistently active, such as a coffee pot. You can also use power strips and set certain devices to “sleep” mode when they are idle. 

3.) In the market for a new vehicle? Switch to electric. Drivers who switch to electric vehicles (EVs) are not only reducing their carbon footprint by driving all-electric or plug-in hybrid models: They also save money, because fueling and servicing EVs is cheaper than traditional gas-powered vehicle. EVs emit zero tailpipe emissions, benefiting the environment and improving air quality.

Electric companies across the country are installing fast charging EV stations to ensure EV drivers have convenient and reliable charging options. Learn more about electric transportation and about electric companies’ efforts to deploy fast charging stations. 

4.) Help Preserve Pollinator Habitats. Pollinators are incredibly important to preserving ecosystems and for the production of many foods. In 2020, more than 45 companies in the energy and transportation sectors, including several EEI member companies, agreed to increase and maintain the habitats of monarch butterflies and other at-risk pollinator species on public and private lands across the country under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances. If you are interested in planting flowers to help pollinators on your property, learn about the right options for your region from these National Parks Service pollinator planting guide cards.