Ever wanted to make your home more energy efficient, but not sure where to start? You can wrap that water heater with an insulating blanket and install weather-stripping on your doors. And, then turn to these top five options to save money and energy:

1. Find and seal air leaks: Air leakages into and out of a home can account for 30% of a home’s heating and cooling costs; that’s a lot of wasted money! According to Energy Star, sealing and insulating the “envelope” or “shell” of a home – its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors – is often the most cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort.
2. Insulate the attic and basement: Insulation prevents the transfer of heat between a house and the outside, keeping heat in and drafts out in winter. In the summer, insulation keeps out the humidity and keeps in the cool air.
3. Upgrade heating and cooling appliances: More than half the energy used in a home comes from heating and cooling, so start with those systems to save energy and reduce your utility bills. Replacing an old heating unit with a modern one can save 10-15% on heating costs. On the cooling side, savings can be even bigger- up to 30%!  These numbers can increase even more by switching to a heat pump.
4. Replace appliances with Energy Star versions: Since 1990, the efficiency of refrigerators has improved by over 60%, dishwashers by over 50%, and laundry machines by over 75%. This can translate to hundreds of dollars in energy savings per year. Look for the blue Energy Star square when buying a new appliance and compare the estimated energy costs on the yellow label.
5. Switch to LED lighting: Switching incandescent or compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs to LEDs can save up to 85% of lighting costs and last as long as 25 years. Manufacturers now offer bulbs in a variety of light profiles, too, making it easier to control the light balance in a room or workspace. 

And don’t forget to set up a free home energy assessment with Duke Energy!

• Paper products with high recycled content
• Art supplies made of natural or non-toxic materials
• Greener cleaning supplies (look for Green Seal or Safer Choice)
• Refillable pencils or pencils made with wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council 
• Pens, backpacks and other Items made of recycled materials
• Items made of sustainable materials such as bamboo
• Reusable water bottle

• For lunches:
  • Instead of individually packaged items, buy in bulk.
  • Use reusable containers, cloth napkins, and reusable cutlery.

• For transportation:
  • Start a “walking school bus” where parents take turns walking a group of students to school.
  • Use carpooling to get them to or from school.
  • When driving to school, consider parking instead of idling. 

We wanted to get some perspective from one of our community members, John Tatreau, about what it's like to drive an electric vehicle, so we asked about his experience driving his Kia EV6 that he bought in February of 2022. 

Why did you pick this EV? I did a lot of research and chose a Kia because of its range, which is 310 miles on a full charge in the summer. It can get 390 miles without A/C but in the winter it drops down to 300 miles. At the fastest chargers, it can charge from 20 to 80% in 20 minutes; this would be with A DC charger at 350kw/h, which is very fast! At home with a level 2 charger, that takes 6-7 hours overnight (about $8 to charge overnight).
The car is also very stylish.

Why did you decide to purchase an EV? I'm a bit of an environmentalist and I wanted to lower my carbon footprint.

Have you experienced any challenges in owning an EV? The biggest for any new EV driver is going on a long trip, where to charge. Finding a level 3 charger that can be used with your type of car.

Have you been able to overcome those challenges? Using GPS and apps, you can find out the kind of charging station. Tesla charging stations will have adapters for non-Tesla owners. And, new infrastructure is being funded.       

When you charge your EV on the road, do you use an app? Which one? Electrify America and ChargePoint (ChargePoint charging was free initially)

What is your car battery’s range? Have you found your charge to be sufficient for the trips you take daily? Sure. It usually lasts a week or two. I charge every 10 days or so.

What has been the biggest benefit of driving an EV? Low maintenance costs, no gas, no oil. Have only paid for rotating tires in 2 years.

What would you say to someone who is currently considering making the switch to an EV? Encourage them. Do your research. There are online resources such as Plugstar.com, a website resource for comparison. There's good information on all electric, plug-in hybrids, and charging stations explained.
An EV will save money on maintenance and we need to do something about greenhouse gases. Look at our climate. More heat, more fires, more floods. Need to do something about it. One more reason: I received a $7,500 Federal tax credit, something else buyers should research as the qualifications have changed.

Did you know the County has over 5,000 square feet of demonstration gardens maintained by Master Gardener Volunteers at the Bonnie B. Davis Center in Hillsborough? Collectively known as the Bonnie B. Davis Demonstration Gardens, each garden has its own name and focus such as container, NC native plants, slope, pollinator and edible gardens. 

The gardens started out as a project for the 2022 master gardener class and the beds got going in the spring of 2023 with some initial plantings. Despite the absence of a budget, the gardens grew with many hours of volunteer work as well as donations.

To learn more about the gardens, we asked Mart Bumgarner, NC Cooperative Extension Service Ag Agent, and Kay Johnson, Master Gardener, a few questions. Click below to learn what they had to say and get more information about visiting or starting a vegetable garden of your own.

Reducing air pollution doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. By turning off your engine while waiting, you can make a big difference in both your wallet and the environment. Transportation is responsible for 43% of the County’s Greenhouse Gas emissions, and reducing idling is an easy way to cut down on these pollutants. Idling uses up to ½ gallon of gas per hour, depending on the type and size of the engine. It may not seem like much, but idling for a few minutes every day can cost you several dollars per week

You can make a significant impact without spending any money. Idling releases harmful emissions into the air like nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, which can cause respiratory illness and other health issues. Reducing idling helps improve the air quality and lowers these risks.

• Drive-thrus: Consider parking and going inside instead of waiting in line with the engine running.
• Driveways: Turn off your car while waiting to pick up someone.
• Schools: Avoid idling in school zones during drop-offs and pickups.
• Train Crossings: Turn off your engine if you’re stopped for a train.
• Warm up your car by driving it. 
• Wait inside a building instead of in your car to keep warm or cool. 

These small changes save gas and reduce wear on your engine. Idling for just 30 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting the engine. By turning off your engine when waiting, you can save money, breathe easier, and protect our environment!

September 21: Volunteer Fair

Orange County invites you to our Volunteer Fair on Saturday, September 21st, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Eno River Arts Mill. Come join us to discover a wide range of volunteer opportunities for both youth and adults across various County departments.  Enjoy family-friendly activities, delicious food from local food trucks, and enter our raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes—just for signing up to volunteer!  Sustainability staff will be there to share all the ways we are looking for volunteers to help support the implementation of our climate action plan; we hope to see you there!

Sep. 27-Oct. 6: National Drive Electric Week

There will be events all over the country to showcase electric vehicles. Look for events in Orange County or the surrounding area here.

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