October 6 is Energy Efficiency Day, but EEI and our member companies promote energy efficiency year-round. 

Energy efficiency programs help customers save energy and lower their electric bills, while also helping electric companies to reduce their carbon emissions. According to the most recent data, in 2019, energy efficiency programs saved enough electricity to power 26 million U.S. homes for one year. 

This Energy Efficiency Day, advocates, electric companies, government agencies, and others will showcase the benefits of energy efficiency. Be sure to follow #EEDay21 on social media to learn about energy efficiency.

Here are 10 simple steps you can take today to save energy:

1. Install high-efficiency “task” lighting over desks, tool benches, and craft tables, so you don’t have to illuminate the entire room. When available, take advantage of the daylight.
2. Consider using LED light bulbs, especially in hard-to-reach fixtures. A traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb or a 42-watt halogen bulb can be replaced by a 7.5- to 10-watt LED bulb that may have a rated lifetime of more than 25,000 hours (which is 25 times longer than many incandescent light bulbs).
3. Be sure that your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, before you run it. If you are on a “time of use” rate, consider running the dishwasher after 9 or 10 p.m. to save energy.
4. Turn off electronic products when they’re not in use. Or, use a power strip as a central “turn off” point when you’re finished using these appliances.
5. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label when shopping for electronics and appliances, such as dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, battery chargers, televisions, DVD players/recorders, Blu-ray players, sound bars, and cable boxes. See https://www.energystar.gov/products for more information.
6. Computer screen savers may save screens, but they do not save energy. Make sure that your screen saver does not deactivate your computer’s “sleep” mode. You can set your computer to operate the screen saver, then go into the sleep mode.
7. Do not block registers for supply or return air with drapes, plants, or furniture.
8. Select pots and pans with flat bottoms to cook efficiently on a stovetop. Spherical bottoms leave an air gap that provides a ready escape route for heat.
9. Consider installing a “smart” thermostat with programming that automatically adapts to your schedule to save you money and hassle.
10. Close cooling vents and turn off window air conditioners in unused rooms. Keep doors to unused rooms closed.

For more energy-saving tips, check out EEI’s booklet, More Than 100 Ways to Improve Your Electric Bill. To learn more about electric company energy efficiency programs, read the Institute for Electric Innovation’s report Energy Efficiency Trends in the Electric Power Industry.