NOVEC offers Earth Day tips for living ‘green’

April 14, 2021

Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, communications@novec.com

Tulips from Garden Club of Virginia

Flowers, such as these tulips, absorb carbon dioxide, provide beauty, and help bees and butterflies pollenate, which is vital for Earth. Photo courtesy of the Garden Club of Virginia.

 

MANASSAS, Va. — In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative offers ways to save energy and money by living green.

“The greening of America starts with each and every one of us,” says Victor Ludena, a NOVEC energy specialist. “By using energy efficiently at home, consumers can reduce their energy bills, help improve the environment, and enhance the quality of their lives.”

Living Green Tips

  • Change an air conditioner’s filter regularly, as recommended by the manufacturer. A clogged filter reduces airflow and causes a unit to use more electricity. Contact NOVEC Energy Solutions at novecenergysolutions.com for “Home Filtration” service.
     
  • On hot days, close window treatments on the sunny sides of the house to help block solar rays.
     
  • Reduce an electric water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees and between hot and warm on a gas heater.
     
  • Use LED lightbulbs. Old-fashion incandescent light bulbs create 10% light and 90% heat. LED bulbs create almost no heat, use 40-80% less energy, and last much longer.
     
  • Use the dishwasher. Washing a full load in the dishwasher uses less energy and hot water than washing by hand, especially with an ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher.
     
  • Clean a clothes dryer’s lint trap before every use to increase efficiency as much as 30%, and prevent fires.
     
  • Install a programmable thermostat and set it to run an air conditioner at 75-78 degrees in summer. Set it a little higher when leaving home for several hours or days, especially when going on vacation.

Grocery Shopping

  • Buy locally produced meats, fruits, and vegetables to support local farmers and reduce transportation emissions.
     
  • Drink water from the tap, refrigerator dispenser, or in reusable bottles instead of one-use plastic bottles, which collect in landfills. Change water filters according to manufacturer’s instructions.
     
  • Avoid foods packaged in bulky plastic containers that end up in landfills.

Green Landscaping

  • Plant native plants. They need less water since they are acclimated to local climates.
     
  • Plant flowers in planters, garden beds, or wooded areas. Flowers absorb carbon dioxide, provide beauty, and help bees and butterflies pollenate, which is vital for Earth.   
     
  • Use a power mower that can mulch grass clippings. Better yet, use a push mower. Clippings fertilize grass, retard water evaporation. Bagged clippings have to be hauled to landfills.
     
  • Sweep your driveway and walkways instead of hosing them.
     

Adults can learn more ways to live green and save energy dollars at novec.com/save. Children can learn more about energy at Kid’s Korner, novec.com/kids.

About NOVEC

NOVEC, headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, is a not-for-profit corporation that provides electricity and energy services to more than 175,000 metered customers in Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and Clarke counties, the City of Manassas Park, and the Town of Clifton. The utility serves more customers than any other electric cooperative in Virginia and is one of the largest in the United States. For more information, visit novec.com, or call 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500.

Facebook Icon 10_23X Icon 10_23YouTube Icon 10_23Instagram Icon 10_23LinkedIn Icon 10_23email