Today Is Energy Efficiency Day; Vectren Reminds Customers Of Ways To Save Energy

In recognition of the fourth annual national Energy Efficiency Day, Vectren, a CenterPoint Energy Company, is joining regional and national organizations, businesses, utilities, universities and individuals in promoting energy efficiency – the easy, quickest way to meet energy needs, cut utility bills and reduce pollution. The company is celebrating Energy Efficiency Day in partnership with organizations supporting the Jacobsville Workforce Housing Partnership, which include The Dream Center of Evansville, the Jacobsville Area Community Corporation, HOPE of Evansville, Catholic Charities and Habitat for Humanity of Evansville. The Jacobsville Jamboree energy savings block party is taking place this afternoon on N. Lafayette Ave in Evansville from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will be in attendance to deliver a proclamation.

“Habitat for Humanity is excited to partner with Vectren for the Jacobsville Jamboree energy savings block party, and it makes sense we do so given our programs to educate future homeowners,” said Gail Knight Williams, director of development for Habitat for Humanity of Evansville. “These courses teach homeowners about the cost of owning a home and the importance of investing in ongoing maintenance to reduce costs and carbon footprints, as well as the operations, proper use, and maintenance of all systems in their Habitat home.”

Join the thousands of people and businesses across the U.S. taking action to save energy and money by following these energy efficiency tips:

• Make the switch to LED bulbs, which last at least 25 times longer and consume up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Vectren provides instant discounts at participating retailers.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label when purchasing new appliances – you will be confident you’ve purchased an appliance that meets the highest of efficiency standards.
• Regularly clean and/or replace your HVAC filter to help your unit run at full efficiency and supply better air flow.
• Have your furnace maintained annually by a qualified technician and check your air filter monthly. Having a professional inspection of your heating system on a regular basis will help lower your heating bills 3 to 10% as well as maximize the life of your furnace.
• Keep your central air conditioning unit running more efficiently by adding an air purifier to your home. Air purifiers remove dust and small particles from the air before it is returned to the air conditioning system and Vectren offers a $25 rebate to help cover the cost.
• Reduce energy costs and increase comfort with a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can maximize your energy savings without the hassle of manually adjusting your thermostat. Rebates up to $75 can help offset the cost.
• Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors to keep the warm air from escaping. These two simple air sealing techniques pay for themselves in energy savings within one year.

“At Vectren, we consider educating our customers on how they can decrease energy usage to be a top priority,” said Rina Harris, director of energy efficiency. “Today and throughout the year, we are committed to working with our customers to conserve energy and save money.”

Customers should also take advantage of Vectren’s online energy tools to pinpoint ways to save energy in the home by using actual data from energy bills. The resources, provided at no additional cost, include an online energy assessment, customized tips based on the size of the home and usage, and a comparison tool to show how an individual’s usage might compare to similar homes. To use the online energy tools, customers must log in to their Vectren.com account. For more information on Vectren’s energy efficiency programs, visit www.vectren.com/saveenergy.

To learn more about Energy Efficiency Day, visit www.energyefficiencyday.org.