It’s National Energy Awareness Month: Tips From Indiana Michigan Power

Check for air leaks or gaps around walls, ceilings, windows, doors, switches and outlets. By preventing and sealing leaks you could reduce their bill up to 20%. Photo providedCheck for air leaks or gaps around walls, ceilings, windows, doors, switches and outlets. By preventing and sealing leaks you could reduce their bill up to 20%. Photo provided

October 7, 2022

By Corey Ohlenkamp—

FORT WAYNE, IN – Fall is already on our doorsteps and as temperatures begin to drop, now is the time to think about saving energy. Today, Oct. 3, kicks off National Energy Awareness Month, and Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) wants to help customers save energy.

Energy Awareness Month, first implemented in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, encourages the government and organizations to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability and managing the nation’senergy resources. Today, I&M continues to promote innovative ideas, products and programs to optimize energy efficiency.

Since 2012, our customers have helped save over 5.7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) through I&M’s energy efficiency programs, which can be found at ElectricIdeas.com. That’s enough to power more than 475,000 typical homes for an entire year. This has helped the environment by eliminating over 91.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide and other emissions since 2012, or the equivalent emissions from nearly 92 million gallons of gas.

In just 2021, over 33.3 million kWh were saved through I&M’s residential energy efficiency programs. More than 8,300 residential customers received almost $1.6 million in rebates.

“We want all of our customers to be aware of ways to reduce their energy usage with easy to implement tips that can make a big impact on their monthly energy bill,” said Katie Davis, vice president for External Affairs and Customer Experience. “This month helps us really focus on saving energy, saving money and saving the environment, something we strive to do all year long.”

Saving energy doesn’t have to be hard and can make a big difference. I&M encourages customers to pick a fewtips and incorporate them into their daily routine. They can start saving energy right away, potentially reducingtheir monthly bill and helping the environment. For more tips on saving energy at home and at work please visitElectricIdeas.com. Here are 10 tips I&M customers can take advantage of to reduce energy use:

  1. Ensure heating systems are properly You should have your heating system inspected regularly so they can help reduce their heating costs up to 5%.
  2. Find and seal Check for air leaks or gaps around walls, ceilings, windows, doors, switches and outlets. By preventing and sealing leaks you could reduce their bill up to 20%.
  3. Utilize a smart If you use a programmable or Wi-Fi / Smart thermostat to lower thetemperature of their home by 10-degrees for eight hours at night, they could reduce heating bills by 10%.
  4. Unplug any electrical device that’s not being Many appliances draw power even when turned off.
  5. Plan for your If you’ll be going on vacation, lower the thermostat to 55°F. This will save energy while preventing water pipes from freezing.
  6. Switch to LED light bulbs. These bulbs use 90% less energy than typical incandescent bulbs, and they last 25 times longer. Replacing just five bulbs can save $75 a year.
  7. Take showers, not baths: A five-minute shower will use about 5 gallons of hot water, while filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.
  8. Clean the lint screen on the dryer every time you use the A clogged lint screen can makeyour dryer use up to 30% more energy – and it can be a fire hazard.
  9. Replace inefficient appliances – even if they’re still An aging water heater or refrigerator could be costing customers much more than they think. If a customers’ central air conditioner is more than 10 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency new unit will cut their summer electric bills by about one-third.
  10. Decorate When decorating for the holidays, use LED strands of lights.

Customers can visit ElectricIdeas.com for energy-saving tips, products and rebates. Make sure to follow Indiana Michigan Power on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media channels for energy-saving information, storm information and more.

 

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 80% of its energy delivered in 2021 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.