Click to print: Home Energy Efficiency Checklist
Click to print: Electricity-Saving Worksheet
Energy Assessments
FREE Energy Assessments – Sign up HERE to today!
Like using a personal trainer to improve your health, this SEEDS program allows you to make saving money on energy a priority, and provides simple steps and advice to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Each year, we select local high school students who are passionate about the environment and would make good ambassadors for SEEDS. They undergo training in basic building science and arrive at your home, accompanied by adult SEEDS volunteers, prepared to guide homeowners to greater efficiency.
Homeowners will walk the exterior and entire interior of their homes with our team of assessors as they point out possible improvements—behavioral or physical. Homeowners are then asked to share energy bills to help document the energy savings these improvements produce. Northeastern PA families are saving tens of thousands of dollars as a result of this program.
This program is free thanks to the continued support from the PA Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the Overlook Foundation and, most recently, the Clif Bar Family Foundation, which has provided funds to help us enhance this program. This enabled us to hire an additional student and create a better program for you!
SEEDS has sponsored a scholarship since 2016 in memory of Michael “Jake” Burkhardt who, as a student, participated in this program. “If all of us did as much as Jake had accomplished in his short, shining life, I would not worry about our planet,” stated former SEEDS Executive Director Jocelyn Cramer, who worked with Jake on the free energy assessment program.
Space is limited for FREE assessments and COVID-19 restrictions may mean a delay in this program
Energy Efficiency Resources
According to WorldWatch Institute, world electricity demand is expected to double between 2000 and 2030. More demand for electricity means more demand for energy sources. As we are learning, most of our current reserves of energy resources are finite. As the supply of cheap energy decreases, prices will most certainly go up. By implementing simple, affordable and often money-saving conservation practices and installing efficient equipment, we can become part of the solution.
Climate Trust Carbon Calculator
The Climate Trust is a nonprofit which provides carbon credits and climate consulting services. They also are a great resource for keeping up-to-date with news pertaining to greenhouse gas emissions and reduction technology.
CarbonFund Business Carbon Calculator
The Carbon Fund Carbon Calculator allows you to input office, fleet, business travel, employee commute, events, paper and shipping data into a formula, which then estimates your emitted tons of CO2 and Offset Cost.
CARBON FOOTPRINT CALCULATIONS Carbon Footprint Ltd.
Carbon Footprint Ltd is a leading provider of carbon management services. They enable organizations around the world to understand and reduce their emissions. Their solutions provide real business benefits including increased brand value & marketing advantages, in addition to energy and travel cost savings.
Energy Calculator and Software
The US Department of Energy has created a list of tools and software that you can use to assess your building’s energy use.
Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator
Thinking about buying a new, energy star refrigerator, but not sure if you want to make the investment? Use Energy Star’s refrigerator retirement savings calculator to determine how much your refrigerator or freezer costs to operate in energy & money and learn how much you can save with Energy Star!
PA Interfaith Power and Light
PA Interfaith Power and Light is a community of congregations, faith-based organizations, and individuals of faith who respond to climate change as a moral issue, through advocacy, energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of clean, renewable energy. PA-IPL is the Pennsylvania affiliate of Interfaith Power and Light, a national religious response to the threat of climate change.
Small Businesses Guide to Energy Efficiency
The United States Small Business Administration’s website is created to help small businesses green themselves. Becoming a green business means making changes across your organization, from the way you manage your day-to-day operations to the products you offer to your customers.
Computer Energy Savers
Energy Star has compiled all the resources you need to save energy, save money and help the environment just by activating power management features on your computer. You can cut the electricity used by your PC roughly in half, enhance data security, save time and help the environment with the simple click of a button.
Energy Star for Small Businesses
Whether you own your building or are a tenant, you typically need lighting, heating, air conditioning, power for office equipment, and other services to stay in your business. With free, unbiased information and technical support from Energy Star, you can more easily improve your business’ financial performance by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the earth’s environment.
Lighting Guide
Lighting is an area where small changes can add up to significant financial and energy savings. People are talking about CFL, T8 linear light, electronic ballasts and LEDs. Learn a little bit more about these with our Lighting Guide.
PPL’s Energy Savings 101
PPL’s website has helpful Energy efficiency and savings tips for residents and businesses. Click the image to view. Rebate and discount information is available for energy efficiency purchases!
QUICK, CHEAP CONSERVATION!
Turn it off & Unplug it.
Many appliances draw power even when they are turned off. Often called “phantom loads,” this energy use can be attributed to nearly 5% of the electricity used in the United States. The Department of Energy estimates that 75% of electricity used to power electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off. You can avoid this energy use by simply unplugging equipment when you’re not using it. Especially at night. Using a power strip is an easy way to cut power to several appliances.
Recycle. Everything.
Recycling just makes sense. Instead of throwing plastics, metals and glass in the trash or burning it up in an incinerator, we can make useful products out of them. Learn more on our resources page.
Changing your light bulbs.
Changing your light bulbs is probably the easiest, most cost effective change you can make in your business. LEDs have an impressive lifespan (20-something years!) and are very cost-effective. They are an affordable investment and technology that has made significant advances over the last few years, finally delivering the warm light incandescents have comforted us with for decades.
As you can see in the chart, an incandescent can draw up to five times as many watts for the same number of lumens. Get a sense of the brightness (in lumens) you need before heading to the store, and throw away your affinity for watts.
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury. They should be safely recycled to prevent release of mercury in our landfills. Various locations will recycle your CFL bulbs for free. [Link to something here such as Home Depot’s service?] If you break a CFL bulb, there can be a small amount of mercury released as a gas, but most will be in solid metal form. Do not vacuum it up, as that can aerosolize the mercury, which is dangerous to our health. Find out how to safely manage and dispose of broken CFL bulbs here.
Use a programmable thermostat.
It’s estimated that installing a programmable thermostat can save you 10% on your annual heating and cooling bills. Some estimate it’s up to 20%. A programmable thermostat allows you to quickly and easily regulate temperature at different times. For example, you can use a programmable thermostat to raise or lower the temperature (depending on the season) of your office at night which allows you to use less energy. With a push of a button, the thermostat can then kick in the heat or AC to return your office to a comfortable temperature during office hours.
Change your temperature settings.
By decreasing your indoor temperature in the winter and increasing it in the summer, by just a few degrees, you can save up to 10% on your heating and cooling bills. Try keeping your indoor temperature at 68 degrees during the winter and 74 degrees during the summer. Lowering and raising these numbers, respectively, will save you even more.
Water Conservation
The majority of Wayne County, with the exception of a small part draining into the Lackawanna River and the Starucca/Cascade Creeks farther North, is a part of the Delaware River Basin Watershed. This means that all of the water from our rooftops, parking lots, septic tanks, lawns and streams flow into the Delaware River and eventually end up in the Delaware Bay. What is your local watershed? By improving the efficiency of our water-using equipment, and by disposing of chemical and hazardous wastes properly, we can save money and protect our precious water sources and those living downstream from us.
Aqua: Efficient Water Use
Water is connected to all aspects of our lives. We use water not only to bathe and garden, but we also drink water for nourishment and use it for cooking. That’s why it’s essential that we use water respectfully and efficiently. On this page, you’ll find tips on how to use water wisely in and outside your home, how to detect costly water leaks and detailed information on responsible landscaping solutions.
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Learn about our Water Supply and Conservation on this interactive website: where water comes from, how we use it, and how we can conserve it.
Transportation
Transportation accounts for approximately 25% of the world’s energy demand. About 30% of US greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. The energy required to get staff to and from work can easily exceed the energy used at an office on a daily basis. While we don’t have very many public transportation options in North Eastern Pennsylvania (yet!), we can begin to reduce energy use in this sector by encouraging employees to find alternative means to driving. Offering incentives to bike, walk, work from home, or carpool to work are great ways to reduce this impact.
Link to Federal Tax Credits for Electronic Vehicles
Federal Tax Credit Up To $7,500!
Link to PA Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers an opportunity for commonwealth residents to apply for a rebate to assist with the incremental cost for the purchase of a new alternative fuel vehicle, including plug-in hybrid, plug-in electric, natural gas, propane or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
You can save $$$ at the pump!
Link to article: Electric Car Buyer’s Guide
EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide
Use this guide to choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Low emissions and good fuel economy are both important for the environment and can save you and your employees money.
Develop a Commuter Survey
A commuter survey administered to all staff and personnel at your business is a simple and easy way to determine how much energy your staff is using to get to and from work. Using the collected information, you can assess your energy use and begin to develop approaches to limiting this consumption. You can create your own, or use this simple survey.
Sign up to Carpool on E-Ride Share
For anyone who commutes daily, here is a place to add your ride offerings and ride needs. Carpooling can cut fuel expenses in half (often even more!), decrease wear-and-tear on cars, and makes traveling to work or school or church more enjoyable!
PA Commutes
PACommutes is a fun, interactive website that can help you find more information on all the forms of alternative transportation available in PA. Learn how to start a carpool system or calculate how much you are spending on your monthly and yearly commute.
Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association
PPTA is dedicated to advocating and strengthening the role of public transportation and improving the quality of life for all Pennsylvania citizens.
PA Bike Routes
Did you know that PA Department of Transportation advertises 9 bicycle tours and one of them, “Route Y” runs right through Wayne County and Honesdale?
Find out your Walkability Score
Discover how walkable your location is by using Walk Score. Encouraging employees and customers to walk around town encourages environmental stewardship and local shopping while giving us the chance to promote our area!
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