Energy Saving To Do List

Energy for your home can be a big expense and it can feel like there are no easy or inexpensive ways to save on your utility bills. Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU) is here to provide our members with resources and information to help improve their financial wellbeing. This Energy Saving To Do list can help you save energy and money this year!

To do: Stop Energy Vampires!

Take a look around your house and make note of all your energy vampires: the electrical appliances that drain power when they are left on standby or when they aren’t in use. This includes TVs, game consoles, computers, laptops, printers, cable/satellite boxes and more. Try to unplug devices when they aren’t in use to save some cash. You can also stop these devices from using up energy is to kill off the juice. Get a power strip and plug things like your gaming console and laptop into it. That way, you can just flip the switch and stop the electricity from getting sucked up by devices when you aren’t using them.

To do: Swap in LED light bulbs

Try replacing your old-style incandescent bulbs or CFLs with LEDS. You can find the right bulbs using lighting guides from Clean Energy Resource Teams. You can even find ideas on how to save money on Holiday lighting! Not only will swapping to LED lights make your home more energy efficient, but LED bulbs last longer and are better for the environment too.  And don’t forget the number one way to reduce the energy cost of lighting your home: make sure to turn off the lights when you leave a room no matter what kind of bulbs you use.

To do: Program the Thermostat

Your thermostat can be the key to saving you money year-round. In winter, set your thermostat to 68°F during the day and lower it at night or when you are away. In summer, set the thermostat at 76°F and use a fan to reduce air conditioning costs. Remember, you can also use the great outdoors for some free cooling and heating. In the winter, open your shades and let the sun help warm up your home. In the summer, open your windows in the evening to cool your home down.

MMFCU is dedicated to helping our members find the appropriate resources to help improve financial wellbeing. If you need more assistance with your energy expenses than this To Do List, check out our blog post about Minnesota’s energy assistance programs that can help eligible households pay for utilities at mmfcu.org.

Minnesota Energy Assistance Programs 

Paying for energy can get very expensive, especially during a Minnesota winter. Thankfully, Minnesota has two energy assistance programs that can help you pay for utilities and even save money on energy in the long term. 

The first program is called the Energy Assistance Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program can help pay towards heat, electric, and past due water costs. In other words, Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program helps renters and homeowners keep homes heated, lights on and water running. This program is free to all eligible households and is managed by Energy Assistance Partners. You can find your Energy Assistance Partner (EAP) by going to the mn.gov website. The Energy Assistance application is currently open and your local EAP can help you fill out the application. Eligibility for this program is based on the three most recent months of income and you can check the eligibility requirements here. 

There are many benefits of the Energy Assistance Program. The average grant is just over $500, but households can get up to $2,000 to help pay for heat and electric bills. Grants are paid directly to your account at your energy company. The program will work for you no matter what type of energy you use, whether it’s electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil or biofuel. Unlike some energy assistance programs, Minnesota’s program is open to people who rent or own their homes. The Energy Assistance Program can also arrange emergency fuel delivery and repair/replace homeowners’ broken heating systems. 

The second program is the Weatherization Assistance Program, which works closely with the Energy Assistance Program to help permanently reduce energy bills for low-income Minnesotans. If you are income-eligible homeowner or renter, consider taking advantage of the Weatherization Assistance Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. This program provides free home energy upgrades to keep homes healthy and safe while also saving energy. Some of the potential energy upgrades include air leakage reduction, insulation, furnace repair or replacement and more. You can check if you are eligible online. If you are eligible and decide you’d like to apply, you will need to complete a joint application for Energy Assistance and Weatherization Assistance and mail it to your local service provider. You can find the application and your provider on the Minnesota government website. Remember to apply early as funds may run out.