Mayor’s Top Ten Energy Saving Tips

Care About Concord and Think Green!

  1. Switch from a normal light bulb to a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). It only takes 18 seconds to change a regular light bulb to an energy saving compact fluorescent light bulb. If every American swapped just one bulb, it would save more than $8 billion in energy costs, prevent the burning of 30 billion pounds of coal, and keep the equivalent of two million cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.
  2. Reduce the amount of junk mail delivered to your house. Isn’t most of the mail you receive junk mail? Reducing junk mail gets clutter out of your mail box, frees up your time and helps protect the environment. It takes 17 trees to make a ton of paper. That means nearly 100 million trees get used for junk mail every year in the U.S. Visit www.StopJunkMail.org or call 1-800-750-4096.
  3. Replace old refrigerators:  Refrigerators can eat up more electricity than any other appliance in your home. New, efficient models use as little as half the electricity of older units. If you have two refrigerators, or an additional freezer, consider whether you really need to operate more than one. ENERGY STAR labeled products use less energy than other products, may save you money on utility bills, and help protect the environment.
  4. Install a programmable thermostat: Clock thermostats turn your heating and cooling system on and off at pre-programmed intervals for maximum comfort control. Wake up to a warmer house in the winter and come home to a cooler house in the summer while reducing your energy bill.
  5. Install ceiling fans: Creating air movement in a room can improve the comfort of the space. Ceiling fans are often all you need to make your home comfortable. They also can cut energy use and cost compared to central air conditioning.
  6. Walk, bike, carpool or take public transit as often as possible: Walking and biking provide a double bonus – save gas AND improve fitness. Every hour you exercise increases life expectancy by two hours – a real two-for-one deal.
  7. Recycle, Reuse, Repair: – At home, at work and at play. On average, Americans individually produce five pounds of garbage every day and together nearly 210 million tons of municipal solid waste each year. There is no way to eliminate all garbage. The answer is to reduce the amount we make, then find the most appropriate way to recycle, reuse or repair what's left.
  8. Plant a tree: Use trees to provide shade around the outside of your home, especially on the south and west sides where the summer heat gain is greatest. Well-placed deciduous trees and shrubs can cut your energy bills. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This marks the 26th year that Concord has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
  9. Keep your car tuned up and your tires inflated to their optimal pressure – improves gas mileage and fuel efficiency.
  10. Save water: This was California’s fourth driest winter on record, so it is time for all of us to renew our water conservation efforts and ensure we are using water efficiently. Save up to 60 percent by replacing your older (pre-1992) toilet with a new High-Efficiency Toilet (HET). Did you know that for a typical home, reducing the watering sprinkler system schedule by one minute on each sprinkler station will save more than 50 gallons per day? Remember to turn the water off while brushing your teeth; wash full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer; repair leaky faucets that make your hot water heater work overtime; put aerators in your faucets and install low-flow showerheads.