Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Energy Use
There are many actions you can take to reduce the environmental impacts of your energy use.
- Reduce energy waste through ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency
- Switch to cleaner energy sources
- Learn more about where you live
ENERGY STAR and energy efficiency
Simply put, energy efficiency is about using less energy to get the same job done - and in the process, avoiding high energy bills and unnecessary pollution. Many products, homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities consume far more energy than needed. For example, energy efficient light bulbs certified by ENERGY STAR use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs to do the same job: light up a room.
So how can you make a difference through energy efficiency? EPA's ENERGY STAR program is the best place to start for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue ENERGY STAR label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy, achieving emissions reductions to reduce air pollution and help protect the climate.
- Look for the ENERGY STAR when shopping for new products. The ENERGY STAR Product Finder provides all the information you need to start shopping for ENERGY STAR certified products, including product details, rebates, and retailers near you
- Learn about the many ways to save in your home and track your progress with "My ENERGY STAR" - your new dashboard to savings
- Take the pledge to save energy with ENERGY STAR
- Use the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder to find utility rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products
- Look for ENERGY STAR certified homes when purchasing a new home
- Improve the energy performance of commercial buildings and industrial plants while simultaneously improving financial performance and reducing emissions by adopting the ENERGY STAR strategic energy management approach
Switch to cleaner energy resources
Clean energy generally means energy generated using renewable energy sources that emit no or negligible air emissions—solar and wind energy, for example—as well as clean distributed generation, such as combined heat and power.
As the price of wind and solar energy continues to fall, more and more people are purchasing renewable energy. Many businesses are also installing renewable energy and combined heat and power at their buildings to save them money, reduce their environmental impact, and provide greater control of their energy use.
If you would like to make the switch to using cleaner energy resources:
- Visit the Green Power Locator to identify different green power supply options for your home or business.
- Use the “Is My Facility a Good Candidate for CHP?” tool to find out if your business may be a good candidate for combined heat and power.
Where you live
To learn more about the environmental impacts of energy use, as well as more general environmental information, in your area:
- Use Power Profiler to learn about the air emissions associated with your home or business's electricity use.
- Use AirNow to learn about local air quality.
- Use MyEnvironment to access local environmental quality information.