Written by: Pat Holmes, OSU Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences
Using energy efficiency techniques in your home can make a difference in the amount you pay your utility company each month. Don’t know where to start? Checkout the Roadmap developed by the Energize Ohio Team at: https://energizeohio.osu.edu/home-business-energy-applications
Start with small changes to avoid feeling like everything needs to be done at once. Then make as many changes as you want to do.
The Energize Ohio website will help you review the following areas in your home to see if you might be able to make a change or improvement with each:
- heating and cooling system
- water heating
- lighting
- electronics
- appliances
- transportation
Another way to increase your energy efficiency is to reduce the amount of items purchased, make simple repairs, find ways to reuse or repurpose items, recyle to keep items out of landfills, and refuse to be a consumer accumulating more than you really need. These tips and more can be found on our website.
For more ideas check out the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel at: www.pickocc.org for their Consumer Guide to: Improving Home Energy Efficiency.