The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities is celebrating Public Power Week this week.
Public Power Week, Oct. 2-8, is being observed this week by BPU, along with the American Public Power Association and more than 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans.
To mark Public Power Week, BPU offers a few tips on how people can save energy and money in the home while caring for the environment and the community they live in.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the average U.S. home uses 70 light bulbs. Even though modern bulbs are energy efficient, residents should still turn them off when they aren’t in use.
Swap out those old incandescent bulbs for new LED bulbs. According to the Department of Energy, they use up to 90% less energy.
Heating and cooling a home uses a lot of energy, set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer to save energy and money on the power bill.
Home water heaters are a big energy user. Make sure to use cold water when possible and turn off the hot water while scrubbing hands.
Unplug appliances when not using them. Even when they aren’t being used, they are sometimes drawing “phantom power,” which wastes energy.
Consider a home energy audit. Energy efficiency experts can use special equipment to find things around the home—like air leaks—that may be costing energy and money.
“We know that using energy wisely to lower monthly electric bills is important to Kansas City, Kansas, residents,” said David Mehlhaff, BPU chief communications officer. “While we are sharing these tips during Public Power Week, we hope our community will keep an eye on energy efficiency all year round.”
- Story from BPU