LINCOLN, Neb. — Gov. Jim Pillen signed a proclamation Friday, Oct. 6, recognizing October as Energy Awareness Month.

Energy Awareness Month aims to highlight the importance of energy efficiency and energy conservation. Energy efficiency is using technology that requires less energy to perform the same function and energy conservation is any behavior that results in the use of less energy.

Energy Awareness Month also celebrates the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency and conservation. Using efficient technology and using less energy can save homes and businesses money on their energy bills, reduce air pollution and protect the environment.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s (NDEE) Dollar and Energy Saving Loans (DESL) Program and its Weatherization Assistance Program reflect the goals of Energy Awareness Month.

“Every Nebraskan can take more measures to be energy efficient, which in turn reduces air pollution and protects the environment and public health. Every action counts,” NDEE Director Jim Macy said. “Here at NDEE, we’re proud to provide funding resources to Nebraskans that promote energy efficiency and energy conservation practices.”

The DESL program provides low-interest loans to Nebraska residents, local businesses, school districts and municipalities for energy efficient equipment and projects. The DESL Program has been used to replace furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps; upgrade lighting in commercial buildings; install wind, solar and fuel cell systems; and replace irrigation pumps and motors, among other projects. Since March 1990 through June 2023, the DESL program has financed 30,830 energy savings projects totaling more than $388 million.

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides funds for low-income families to weatherize their homes, making them more energy efficient. This reduces families’ energy bills so their money can be spent on other necessities. Improvements made through the Weatherization program include reducing air leakage, repairing cracked windows, adding insulation and replacing or repairing furnaces. Since 1977 through June 2023, over $230 million has been spent to make energy efficiency improvements in over 71,000 homes.

“Together, we have helped Nebraskans have access to energy efficient loans and assistance for several decades,” Macy said.

Energy efficiency and energy conservation can be practiced every day. Here are some tips from the U.S. Department of Energy:
 

• Scrape your dishes and load them into the dishwasher instead of rinsing or hand washing dishes.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Move your faucet lever to the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position still draws hot water, even if it doesn’t make it to the faucet.
• Cover pots and pans when cooking to cook the food faster and use less energy.
• Use warm or cold water to clean your laundry. Using even warm instead of hot water can cut energy use in half.
• Consider drying laundry on clothes lines or drying racks.
• When drying laundry, using a lower heat setting – even if the cycle is longer – can use less energy.
• Use advanced power strips that can prevent electronics from drawing energy when they aren’t in use.
• Avoid streaming content on game consoles, which use 10 times more power than streaming through a tablet or laptop.
• Change your lightbulbs to LEDs, they use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Energy Awareness Month promotes the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, from lower costs to healthier homes. Energy impacts every citizen. It’s important to implement ac­tions to improve energy efficiency on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis.