Energy Challenge seeks success with small steps
National concern and awareness of critical environment and energy problems have prompted all of us to do our part to save energy. There are many small sacrifices and changes that result in positive environmental impact.
- Energy efficiency appliances – more conscientious consumers drive manufacturer development and innovation in energy efficiency in appliances.
- Setting the thermostat one Fahrenheit degree lower during the winter results — on average — in five percent less gas consumption in homes heating with natural gas.
- Sitting by a window to read during the daylight hours rather than turning on a lamp, since lighting is responsible for 8 percent of all energy consumption and 22 percent of electricity nationwide.
- Use Energy Star labeled compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lamps... plus CFLs last ten times longer!
- Change the five most frequently used light bulbs to ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs. If done nationwide, more than one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases would be kept out of our air (the equivalent in air pollution to taking more than 8 million cars off the road for an entire year!)
CFLs also save much more mercury from the environment than they contain by avoiding the mercury emission that would occur if coal-fired power plants generated the energy that the CFLs have saved. (Hamilton County has fluorescent lamp disposal centers to prevent the very small mercury content of CFLs from entering the atmosphere.)
These are some simple but effective ways to have a positive impact on our environment. All of these can be applied in the home and as part of the City of Montgomery Energy Challenge. It is not too late to get involved. Check the City web site for details on the Energy Challenge criteria.
Montgomery is committed to making a difference.