La Crosse, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Some of you may have noticed that the high temperatures we've seen this summer have been resulting in some high energy costs at home.
La Crosse County's own Sustainability Coordinator, Nick Nichols, has learned that controlling the sunlight in and around your home is a big part of saving energy. He has solar panels on his house that provide power and heat water. He has also installed a solar tube that provides light in his kitchen without flipping a switch. But blocking the light can also be a valuable way to save on cooling costs. Nichols has installed window quilts that block out the light and cool the house considerably. One of the easiest ways to save money is to unplug electronics that aren't in use.
Mr. Nichols said, "A lot of those have what's called a vampire load or a ghost load. You're paying for that electricity that's going into that unit so that when you hit the remote, its instant on. You know, turns on right away. Well you're paying 24/7 for the electricity that's going into that television set and you want to stop as much of that as possible. So if you've got a power strip, flip it off."
These energy saving tips are only a few of the things you can do to save money and energy. If you want more energy saving advice, you can call Mr. Nichols at the Solid Waste Department at 608-785-9768. He is always willing to help find ways to save energy and save you money.
