Energy efficiency
One of the simplest and most effective ways to use less electricity is via energy efficiency.
1. Change behaviors to use less electricity -- e.g., turn out lights, close the curtains in summer.
2. Use energy-efficient products and appliances -- e.g., LED lights, a high-efficiency HVAC system.
3. Weatherize your home to increase your comfort year-round and use less air conditioning in summer and heating in winter -- e.g., insulate and seal air leaks.
There are several free resources to help you use less electricity. Most provide tips for behavior change. Many offer discounts or rebates on energy efficient products and appliances. A few will give you products and even come to your home to install them...all for free! Many of these programs are funded by you, through a surcharge on your electricity and natural gas bills. So be sure to use them!
1. Change behaviors to use less electricity -- e.g., turn out lights, close the curtains in summer.
2. Use energy-efficient products and appliances -- e.g., LED lights, a high-efficiency HVAC system.
3. Weatherize your home to increase your comfort year-round and use less air conditioning in summer and heating in winter -- e.g., insulate and seal air leaks.
There are several free resources to help you use less electricity. Most provide tips for behavior change. Many offer discounts or rebates on energy efficient products and appliances. A few will give you products and even come to your home to install them...all for free! Many of these programs are funded by you, through a surcharge on your electricity and natural gas bills. So be sure to use them!
CUB Energy Saver is a free, user-friendly online resource which provides suggestions on how to save electricity. It calculates exactly how much electricity you could save through different actions -- from using a ceiling fan to turning off the coffee maker after it's done brewing. Designed for ComEd customers, it tailors suggestions to your particular home and actual electricity use. In addition to saving money, you can also earn points redeemable for discounts at leading retailers.
CUB also creates handy guides to Illinois Energy Efficiency Incentives and Energy Efficient Lighting.
CUB also creates handy guides to Illinois Energy Efficiency Incentives and Energy Efficient Lighting.
The ComEd Smart Ideas program provides many energy efficiency products, rebates, incentives, and tips -- some in partnership with People's Gas and North Shore Gas. Offers are often advertised in inserts in your electricity bill. You can also check out the Smart Ideas website.
CUB publishes a guide to the ComEd Smart Ideas program to help you navigate and evaluate different options.
ComEd also runs programs, like Real Time Pricing and AC Cycling, that help you shift electricity use from high-demand to low-demand times of day. See "Eliminate Peaks" section for details.
CUB publishes a guide to the ComEd Smart Ideas program to help you navigate and evaluate different options.
ComEd also runs programs, like Real Time Pricing and AC Cycling, that help you shift electricity use from high-demand to low-demand times of day. See "Eliminate Peaks" section for details.
People's Gas, sometimes in partnership with ComEd, offers some especially attractive energy efficiency programs that save both electricity and natural gas. These include Home Energy Jumpstart where products like programmable thermostats and CFL light bulbs are installed for you for free in your home. It also offers significant financial incentives to replace HVAC systems.
Energy Impact Illinois helps home owners reduce their home energy use year-round. They offer deeply discounted home energy assessments and connect residents with qualified contractors, rebates, incentives, and low-interest loans for a range of energy efficiency projects. They specialize in helping owners of single-family and 2-4 unit buildings reduce home energy loss through insulation and air sealing. This is an alliance of government, utilities, and non-profits administered by Elevate Energy (formerly CNT Energy). Visit their website to learn more.
Several C3 leaders run free Community Weatherization Action Teams workshops thought Chicago in the winter that are ideal for apartment renters and condo-dwellers. Free weatherization kits are distributed along with instructions. A guide to hands-on home weatherization can be downloaded here.