YOUR AD HERE »

Sustainability Tip: Here’s how to make your home energy efficient this Energy Efficiency Day

By Stephen Beane
Sustainability Tip
Outfitting homes and businesses with Energy Star-certified appliances and lightbulbs can help reduce energy and save money.
Special to the Daily

Did you know that Walking Mountain Science Center’s Energy Programs has helped local homes and businesses save more than $900,000 on their energy bills since the program began?  Learning how to be more energy efficient can save us all a lot of money, reduce our collective pollution, and is vital in helping us reach our county andstate-wide climate goals for the future.

In celebration of the economic and environmental benefits driven by energy efficiency improvements, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to officially make Oct. 2 Energy Efficiency Day. As much a celebration of the successes that have resulted from energy efficiency work in the U.S., this day also aims to bring additional awareness to the importance of energy efficiency.

So how have Walking Mountains Science Center’s Energy Programs helped our community save that much money? Our community science center houses and sponsors EnergySmartColorado and Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy Program (CARE) for Eagle County. With the support of EnergySmartColorado’s tools and network, Walking Mountains’ staff are able to help local residents and business owners find the right equipment upgrades and apply for rebates, that will ultimately reduce their energy bills.



The Energy Team walks through homes and business and help install the best energy saving devices while coaching on best practices. Through the CARE program, staff works with income-qualified Coloradans to help increase comfort in the home, create safer and healthier living environments and do all of this for free. These services – which are available in English and Spanish – include upgrading appliances, air-sealing and weatherizing residential units of all types.

Walking Mountains’ Sustainability Programs are also hosting an energy efficiency workshop to reveal local opportunities for energy efficiency rebates and share energy saving ideas from local businesses’ electrical and natural gas utilities, mechanical maintenance service companies, and other energy experts in the field.

Support Local Journalism




 Here are three tips to help you increase your energy knowledge and improve efficiency.

  1. Celebrate Energy Efficiency Day. Join the growing list of participants who are committed to reducing their energy consumption. Learn what others are doing to lower their energy footprint or share how you are celebrating energy efficiency day through the official Energy Efficiency Day website:  https://www.energyefficiencyday.org
  2. Take advantage of Walking Mountains Science Center’s energy programs. Stop by to join the free Easy Energy Solutions Workshop on Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. The workshop will provide tools, resources and easy solutions for energy efficiency. Visit walkingmountains.org/sustainability-hub/ to learn more about other energy programs offered through Walking Mountains.
  3. Switch to LEDs. LED light bulbs last 25 times longer and consume 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. According to energyefficiencyday.org, replacing five of your most-used bulbs with Energy Star-certified LEDs can save up to $75 on energy costs annually.

Stephen Beane is an Actively Green Intern at Walking Mountains Science Center. Contact him at stephenb@walkingmountains.org.


Support Local Journalism