At UGI Energy Services, our team's energy expertise extends beyond the workday. We're committed to energy efficiency 24/7, 365 days a year. Our advice stems from both professional knowledge and personal experience.

Below, we share our team's personal tips for maintaining an energy-efficient household and environmentally conscious lifestyle.

Jackie Nawa, Communications

• Close Windows - When running A/C or heat close and properly seal windows.
• Carpool - Particularly if you commute to an office on a regular basis, this can be an efficient way to join with co-workers to save money and resources.
• Properly Insulate your Home - Heating and cooling your home can be done in an efficient and financially reasonable manner if you are taking the proper steps to ensure air is not escaping through cracks, openings, or uninsulated walls.
  
  

Jackie Tino, Marketing

• Turn Lights Off - When leaving a room or the house, be sure to turn off any unnecessary lighting.
• Keep Doors Closed - Keep doors to the outside closed to maintain indoor temperatures. This prevents your system from doing more work than it needs to heat or cool your home.
• Use Ceiling Fans - Ceiling fans provide a cooling effect that requires minimal energy.
• Run a Full Dishwasher - While running a dishwasher can use less water than hand-washing dishes, it uses a significant amount of energy. Pick a middle ground and only run your dishwasher when it is completely full.
• Run Wash on Cold - Running your wash using cold water uses significantly less energy.
• Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! – This one speaks for itself. Recycling is important in maintaining a healthy environment.

Stacey Wyatt, Customer Care

• Unplug Appliances and Devices - Microwaves, lights, etc. should be unplugged when not in use. Even phone and computer chargers should be unplugged to prevent wasted energy.
• Turn A/C off at Night and use a Fan - Similar to a ceiling fan, standalone fans provide a cooling effect, giving your cooling system and wallet a break.
• Wash Dishes by Hand - Using this tactic along with only running a full dishwasher can provide you with the added benefit of conserving both water and energy at different times.

Melinda Deamer, Mass Marketing

• Use a Smart Thermostat - Control your heat or A/C from the comforts of your phone. Smart thermostats provide added control of your system, therefore eliminating unnecessary usage.
• Use a Timer for Lighting - Timers allow you to control your lighting and only power on when they are needed throughout the day and night.

Michelle Zimmer, Inside Sales

• Cook with a Crockpot –Crockpots use a low amount of energy and cost less than using an oven.
• Buy Smart Bulbs - LED bulbs and ones that can be connected to an App are particularly useful and energy efficient. While LED lights use less energy; there are also bulbs called smart bulbs that can be turned off and on using an app.
• Run Washer/Dryer Machines When Full - For optimal savings, run these machines once full. If you can, hang clothes up instead of using a dryer.
• Check for Rebates - When upgrading your systems or purchasing new energy efficient items, check for rebates from manufacturers, government agencies, and electric and natural gas utilities.
• Shades and Ceiling Fans - Both can be used to help during the summer and winter months. Open the shades during the winter to let the sun in and close them during the summer to keep the heat out. Some ceiling fans allow you to go the opposite way during the winter to push the heat down.
• Use Outdoor Grills - Cooking on the grill can save $$ because it keeps the heat out of the house and the cost of energy is lower.
• Maintain your AC/Heating System - Remember to change the filter and make sure the A/C unit is cleared so it runs efficiently. You should also make sure you have both checked twice a year to confirm they run well, and no parts are needed.
• Dust - Cleaning vents, for example, behind the refrigerator where the condenser coils, is an intake vent.
• Weather Strip your Windows - This is not just an activity for the wintertime. Make sure air is not escaping through the cracks in the windows.

Heather Ayala, Commissions Analyst

• Buy local, go thrift shopping - Reduces transportation emissions and energy use for shipping goods long distances. Thrifting extends the lifecycle of products, reducing waste and demand for new manufacturing.
• Grow your own garden - Eliminates transportation emissions for produce. Enhances local biodiversity and lessens use of pesticides/fertilizers common in commercial farming.
• Eat organic - Avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
• Compost - Diverts organic waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions. Produces nutrient-rich soil amendment, reducing need for chemical fertilizers.
• Choose sustainable cleaning/beauty products (vegan, paraben free, etc.) - Reduces use of chemicals that can pollute waterways if not properly disposed of. These products often use more environmentally friendly packaging and manufacturing processes.
• Avoid using single-use plastics - Reduces plastic waste.

Conserve Energy and Save Money!

We’ve shared our team’s favorite energy-saving tips, but the journey to a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t end here. We encourage you to:

1. Start small: Choose one or two tips from this list to implement this week. Small changes can lead to significant impacts over time.
2. Track your progress: Monitor your energy bills to see how these changes affect your consumption and costs.
3. Spread the word: Share these tips with friends, family, and colleagues. The more people who adopt energy-efficient practices, the greater our collective impact.
4. Get creative: Develop your own energy-saving strategies.
5. Stay informed: Keep up with the latest developments in energy efficiency. Knowledge is power when it comes to making environmentally conscious decisions.

Remember, every action counts in our efforts to create a more sustainable future. By working together and making conscious choices, we can significantly reduce our energy consumption and environmental footprint. Let’s make energy efficiency a way of life!

We'd love to hear about your energy-saving successes or any innovative tips you've discovered. Share your experiences with us on our social media channels. Together, we can build a more energy-efficient and sustainable world.