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ORONOCO, MN, October 1, 2012 – October is Energy Awareness Month. The Energy Education Council and People’s Energy Cooperative encourages you to turn awareness into action and to take steps to become more energy efficient this October.

“We use energy in our homes, businesses, and transportation,” explains Elaine Garry, president and CEO of People’s Energy Cooperative. “We hope that people will make changes in October that become year-round efficiency habits.”

There are many ways to be more efficient. The Energy Education Council and People’s Energy Cooperative has the following tips to help you increase your energy efficiency:

Turn thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer. Dress in layers to stay warm or use fans to stay cool.

Save money by adjusting the thermostat when you are away from home. For all types of home cooling systems, you can reduce energy use by increasing the temperature when you are away. However, home heating is different. If your home has a heat pump, the most efficient option is to keep it constantly set to a moderate temperature. For other types of home heating systems, you can save money by adjusting the temperature when you are away from home.

Timing is everything when it comes to energy. Electricity demand is at its highest in the afternoon and early evening. You can save money and ease stress on the electric grid by doing activities that require lots of energy in late evening or at night.

Upgrade to more efficient appliances. If it is time for a new appliance or electronic, consider purchasing an efficient Energy Star product. Energy Star products consume 10 to 50 percent less energy than other products and sometimes qualify for tax credits.

Turn off or unplug electronics you are not using. Use power strips so that you can turn multiple electronics on and off at once.

Use efficiency settings on televisions, computers, and other electronics.

Consider plugging your computer and television into smart power strips. Smart strips sense when a computer is in sleep mode and when a TV is turned off. The smart strip will turn off all related electronics—like cable boxes, video game consoles, and printers.

Upgrade caulk, weather stripping, and insulation. If your home leaks air, you are losing money and wasting energy. Energy Star estimates that you can save up to 10 percent on your final energy bill by properly sealing and insulating your home. Around windows and doors are common areas that could use caulking or weather stripping. Improving attic insulation is one of the best and easiest ways to improve your homes insulation. You can lay insulation on top of existing insulation in the attic.

Change water heater settings. Much of the energy a water heater consumes goes to storing the water at the selected temperature. Save money by lowering the temperature to 120 degrees.

When you leave a room, turn off lights, fans, and electronics that are not in use.

“Remember, the cleanest, greenest energy is the energy you do not use,” says Garry. People’s Energy Cooperative encourages you to conserve energy when possible.

For more information on energy efficiency, visit EnergyEdCouncil.org.

About People’s Energy

Cooperative

People’s Energy Cooperative is a member-owned electric cooperative celebrating over 75 years of delivering retail electric power to its nearly 12,000 member-owners in Olmsted, Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Wabasha and Winona Counties. People’s Energy Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy® cooperative and a member-owner in the Dairyland Power system of electric cooperatives that generates and transmits reliable electric power in 62 counties of four states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois).