The Green Staffer: Winter Energy Saving Tips

Welcome to the Green Staffer, your seasonal column brought to you by the IUPUI Staff Council Sustainability Committee!  We will share tips and ideas to help make your world (home and work) a “greener” place.

The winter season tends to be a time of high energy use, as we heat our spaces to combat the cold.  Not only do our electricity bills increase, but perhaps unsurprisingly, we create more carbon pollution.  As of 2019, Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL)’s energy mix was 43% coal and 45% natural gas combustion – two highly polluting sources of energy.  While this pollution is not in our literal backyard, it is not very far away either.  Up until 2016, IPL operated a coal-burning power plant just south of downtown Indianapolis on Harding Street.  To this day, IPL operates two “super polluting” coal-burning plants in Petersburg, Indiana.

So you can see, reducing our energy use during the winter months is not only good for our finances, but also important for preserving our local environment, and helping fellow Hoosiers breathe clean air and drink clean water.  It is all around the right thing to do!

Here are five easy steps you can take to help reduce your energy use (and carbon footprint) this winter:

• Make sure to seal or cover leaks in window seals.
• Service your furnace to ensure efficiency.
• Adjust your thermostat, or replace your manual thermostat with a programmable one, to save 10% on heating (and cooling).
• Turn down your water heater to the warm setting.
• For IPL customers: Sign up for the Green Power Option, to source 100% of your energy from renewable energy sources for only an additional $1 per month on average.  Additionally, IPL offers several free ways you can save on energy-efficient light bulbs, receive winterization tips, and schedule a Virtual Home Energy Assessment appointment on your home to receive a free smart thermostat.  More information can be found here

Additional US Department of Energy tips here.

Looking ahead, the next volume of the Green Staffer will feature Spring gardening tips!