Energy Efficiency, Transportation, and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Install LED Lightbulbs. One simple change that you can make is to install LED lightbulbs in your home instead of conventional or CFL bulbs. LEDs have multiple benefits, including using much less energy than traditional or CFL bulbs, they can last up to 25 years, and they don’t contain harmful chemicals that can potentially be released. Check out NYSERDA’s website for more information.
• Weatherize Your Home. Increasing the insulation and efficiency of your home through weatherization upgrades is a great way to lower your energy bills and your carbon footprint. Learn more about programs available from the Weatherization Lunchtime Learning webinar.
• Rent Instead of Own? There are still plenty of ways that you can be more energy efficient! Learn more from the Energy Efficiency for Renters Lunchtime Learning webinar.
• Looking for some quick tips and tricks?
  • Wash your clothes on the cold cycle when possible and always wash full loads. This can also save up to 3,400 gallons of water per year.
  • Run appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers either early in the morning or late at night when there is less demand on the electricity grid. This means that your chores will be done with cleaner power.
  • Slay energy vampires by unplugging appliances and other electronics when not in use as they can still draw power when connected to the socket. To make this easier, consider using a power strip that can control multiple appliances at once.
  • Purchase Energy Star labeled appliances and equipment.
  • For more tips and tricks, check out NYSERDA’s Energy Saving Tips Page.

Consider going solar for your home. As the solar market has matured there are more ways than ever to get powered up by the sun! These include not only installing panels on your home, but also new options such as community solar, where you can go solar without having to install panels on your property. Learn more about solar and incentives on NYSERDA’s website and from the Solar for your Home Lunchtime Learning webinar.

Harness renewable power for your heating and cooling needs as well! New technological advances have made it possible for you to heat and cool your home with ground or air source heat pumps. These systems eliminate the need to burn fossil fuels for heating and cooling and can lower your energy costs. Learn more on NYSERDA’s website and from the Renewable Heating and Cooling Lunchtime Learning webinar.

Transportation represents one of the largest portions of most people’s carbon footprints and choosing a more sustainable commuting mode is one way to significantly reduce this. No matter where you live in New York there are resources to help you walk, bike, take transit, carpool, drive an electric vehicle, or use any other method you want that doesn’t involve driving alone in a fossil fuel-powered vehicle to get to work. Learn more here or on the recent Green Your Commute Lunchtime Learning webinar.

Have to drive? Join the tens of thousands of New Yorkers that are making the switch and driving electric! Electric vehicles not only significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, but they are fun to drive as well with instant torque. Add to that New York State’s growing public charging network and it’s easier than ever to join the electric revolution.

Learn more about the technology and incentives available on NYSERDA’s ChargeNY website and from the Drive Electric Lunchtime Learning webinar. 

A surprisingly large part of our carbon footprint comes from the growing and raising of the food we eat. The good thing is you can take simple actions to significantly decrease this, such as buying local food as much as possible (a New York State tomato has a much lower transportation greenhouse gas footprint than one from South America) and increasing the amount of low carbon food you consume, such as grain, fruits, and veggies. Learn more from the Climate Friendly Eating Lunchtime Learning webinar.