Less energy wasted. More comfort at home. October is Energy Awareness Month—a great time to build small habits that can help lower your energy bill. Start with these five easy wins:
- Keep comfort in, drafts out. Add weatherstripping around drafty doors and caulk gaps around windows. Your heating and cooling system won’t have to work as hard.
- Give your thermostat a little nudge. When you’re running the heat, try a slightly lower setting that keeps everyone comfortable. Grab a sweater before turning it up.
- Wash cold. Dry less. Use cold water whenever clothing care instructions allow, wash full loads, and give your dryer a break with a drying rack. Less water heating and drying means less energy used.
- Light smarter. Replace your most-used incandescent bulbs with LEDs, and switch lights off when you leave a room. Small swaps can cut everyday energy waste.
- Make every dishwasher load count. Run full loads and choose air-dry instead of heated drying when available. Let your dishes dry without the extra energy.
Want to Go the Extra Mile?
- Upgrade with help. Planning to replace an aging water heater or heating system? Explore efficient heat pumps and use MCE’s Rebate & Incentive Finder to check available savings. Then visit MCE’s Contractor Finder to find local licensed professionals. Confirm rebate eligibility and availability before starting work.
- See if you qualify for free improvements. MCE’s Home Energy Savings program offers qualifying homeowners and renters no-cost home energy assessments and upgrades such as attic insulation and duct sealing.
- Save on timing, too. Run appliances before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. if those are lower-priced hours on your rate plan. Shifting use doesn’t necessarily reduce energy consumption, but it can help lower your bill. Explore MCE’s time-of-use tips.
Start with one change today. Keep the savings habits going all year.
