Energy and the Environment

Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Energy Use

There are many actions you can take to reduce the environmental impacts of your energy use.

Be more energy efficient

Energy efficiency means delivering the same (or more) services while using less energy. So how can you make a difference through energy efficiency? EPA’s ENERGY STAR program is the best place to start for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue ENERGY STAR label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing carbon pollution by two billion metric tons. 

  • Look for the ENERGY STAR when shopping for new products. The label can now be found on over 70 product categories.
  • Visit My ENERGY STAR for personalized tips on how you can save energy at home and work.
  • Upgrade your home’s lighting. Bulbs and fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR use about 70 to 90 percent less energy than standard bulbs and last 10 to 25 times longer.
  • Check with your local utility or use our Rebate Finder to see what incentives or rebates are available for the purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, lighting, or HVAC systems.
  • Seal and insulate your home and office to improve comfort and reduce heating and cooling costs. EPA recommends home sealing to improve your home’s “envelope” or the outer walls, ceiling, windows, and floors. To improve the envelope of your home: Add insulation, seal air-leaks, and choose an ENERGY STAR labeled window if you are in the market for new windows.

Switch to cleaner energy resources

Clean energy generally means energy generated using renewable energy sources that emit no or negligible air emissions—solar and wind, for example—as well as clean distributed generation, such as combined heat and power.

As the price of wind and solar energy continues to fall, more and more people are choosing to purchase renewable energy. Many businesses are also choosing to install renewable energy and combined heat and power at their buildings to save them money, reduce their environmental impact, and provide greater control of their energy use. 

If you would like to make the switch to using cleaner energy resources:

Where you live

To learn more about the environmental impacts of energy use, as well as more general environmental information, in your area:

  • Use Power Profiler to learn about the air emissions impacts associated with your electricity use.
  • Use AirNow to learn about local air quality.
  • Use MyEnvironment to access local environmental quality information.