What You Can Do About Climate Change — Energy

Saving energy and using cleaner energy sources is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases and help combat climate change.

Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now

• Look for the ENERGY STAR certification label on energy-efficient products, including

  

  appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, electronics, and office equipment. Visit Product Finder to find products and where to buy them. In addition to saving you money on energy bills, many utilities offer rebates on ENERGY STAR certified products, which you can find through Rebate Finder. Some even offer federal tax credits.
• Consider an ENERGY STAR certified house or apartment. They are designed and built to standards well above most other homes on the market today.
• Heat and cool your home smartly by properly sealing and insulating your home; upgrading to ENERGY STAR certified windows, doors, and heating and cooling systems, including certified smart thermostats; and maintaining your heating and cooling equipment. For a whole-house systems approach, use the ENERGY STAR Home Advisor tool or Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. Also, consider other improvements such as rooftop gardens, cool roofs, and sustainable landscaping.
• Take advantage of no-to-low cost energy-saving tips if you are on a budget or rent, such as adjusting thermostats and turning off lights when space is unoccupied, unplugging electronics when not in use, using ENERGY STAR LED lightbulbs, adjusting window shades to reduce heating and cooling requirements, and installing programmable thermostats.
• Switch to green power generated from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. You can also consider rooftop solar or other self-supplied green power. Visit EPA’s Power Profiler to learn about the air emissions impacts of your locally provided electricity.

Steps Companies Can Take

• Increase the energy performance of your workplace by using ENERGY STAR resources for buildings and plants.
• Procure ENERGY STAR certified products for your workplace, including office and data center equipment, building products, heating and cooling systems, water heaters, food service equipment, and electric vehicle chargers.
• Green your workplace with the help of rooftop gardens and cool roofs, sustainable landscaping, and renewable energy technologies such as solar panels.
• Buy green power generated from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. EPA's Green Power Partnership can help your organization reduce its environmental impact.