RESOURCE GUIDE: Tips to help households save energy and stay warm this winter
DENVER — With the autumnal equinox on September 22nd marking the official end of summer, U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s and Environment America Research & Policy Center’s experts have compiled a resource guide to help Americans keep cozy this winter while also cutting energy waste, reducing pollution and keeping utility bills down. Our experts listed below are available for interviews as well.
The guide is also released ahead of the annual nationwide Energy Efficiency Day, when advocates, companies, government agencies, utilities and others will showcase the benefits of energy efficiency.
As air pollution afflicts nearly half of Americans and residential electricity prices are forecast to rise across the nation, maximizing energy efficiency is a great way to make our air cleaner while also saving money.
The resource guide contains the following handy, beginner-friendly materials:
UPDATED: Citizen’s guide to reducing energy waste – link HERE
This guide offers a comprehensive, room-by-room overview for reducing energy waste and becoming more energy-efficient in your home, from low-tech solutions such as caulking windows to high-tech, high-efficiency appliances.
NEW! Tips and pitfalls to avoid when insulating your home – link HERE
This guide takes the guesswork out of home insulation, providing DIY project tips, suggestions for getting started on bigger projects, and important information about utility weatherization programs and how to take advantage of them. This guide also tackles common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid with home insulation upgrades.
UPDATED: Saving energy in your home this winter – link HERE
This guide includes basic, practical tips for weatherization, including:
- How to get a home energy assessment.
- Finding air leaks and sealing them up.
- Adjusting the settings of energy-intensive appliances such as water heaters.
- How to think about larger investments like installing storm windows and buying energy-efficient appliances.
UPDATED: LED light bulb purchasing guide – link HERE
LED light bulbs are much more efficient than other bulbs. But to get the right efficient lighting for your home, you’ll need to know how to pick the right brightness, color and bulb type from among the many LED options available. This guide helps people pick the right option for them.
UPDATED: What is a heat pump and should you get one? – links HERE and HERE
These guides explain in a beginner-friendly way what a heat pump is, the different types available, what their benefits are and help people determine if a heat pump is right for them.
The following advocates are available to interview either over the phone or on camera:
National
Abe Scarr, [email protected], is the PIRG Education Fund’s Energy and Utilities Program Director. He is a renowned and experienced advocate for stronger consumer protections and utility accountability. He has appeared in numerous news outlets including CBS Chicago, the Chicago Tribune and Grist. He also serves as a board member for the Consumer Federation of America. Abe lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Luke Metzger, [email protected], is the chair of Environment America Research & Policy Center’s clean energy program, working to promote the benefits that renewable sources of energy such as rooftop solar and heat pumps can bring to households and communities. He has appeared in many news outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post and CBS Austin. Luke lives in Austin, Texas.
State
Advocates from PIRG Education Fund’s and Environment America Research & Policy Center’s state groups are also available for interview in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.