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We all have a role to play in achieving energy efficiency.

Knowing where to start is half the battle of creating a more energy-efficient life, and making the right HVAC and appliance choices can save you money. As a member, you have control over improving the energy efficiency of your home or business. Taking a few easy steps allows you to carry out daily routines while using less.
Adjust Your Thermostat: A good starting point is setting your thermostat to 68 degrees in winter and lowering it when you're away. You can save as much as 10% on annual heating costs when you make a habit of this. A
programmable thermostat can do this for you every day.
Modernize Your Lighting: Switch to LED light bulbs - they use less energy to provide light or complete tasks. LED bulbs save money and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Considering outside lighting? Solar lighting is a great choice for outdoor areas like paths and patios. Choose Energy Efficient Appliances: Major appliance purchases may not happen often, but you can make better choices when replacing or upgrading  appliances. Look for ENERGY STAR ® certified appliances use less energy and water.
Consider Upgrading Your HVAC: If you're facing a decision about upgrading your HVAC unit, consider a high-efficiency heat pump. Replacing an electric furnace with a high-efficiency heat pump will give you the greatest return on investment. Bigger is not always better - choose the system that is sized correctly for your home. Maintain your filter and have yearly inspections done by a qualified HVAC technician.
Insulate and Seal: Walk around your home, inside and out, to spot opportunities to weatherize. Use caulking and weather-stripping to fill any gaps or cracks around windows and doors. This helps seal your home, making it  easier to heat or cool it all year. Do you live in an older home? Check your attic because you might need additional insulation. If more blanket insulation cannot be installed, a good option is spray foam. Qualified techs can do this for you and check duct work to make sure there is no air loss.
New Construction: If you are building or renovating, the construction phase can be a great opportunity to maximize insulation in walls, install energy-efficient windows, and use modern building materials that can save energy and money.

Making small decisions like a lighter roofing color can improve your energy efficiency. According to the IRS, if you make qualified energy-efficient improvements to your home, you can qualify for a tax credit of up to $3,200. This includes replacing exterior doors, windows and skylights or upgrading insulation. This program is available through 2032. Find out more at irs.gov.

Improve Power Management: The emergence of smart devices allows homeowners even greater control, like lights that can be turned off from anywhere using a smartphone or programmable thermostats with apps you can control from anywhere.

Co-ops like WFEC also provide our members with resources like energy efficiency loans (for making energy-saving improvements to your home), and rebates (on certain high-efficiency heating and cooling systems). Our members can take advantage of programs like these to achieve greater efficiency and savings.

To find out more about the energy efficiency programs offered by West Florida Electric, please visit westflorida.coop.