Concerns about global warming and rising energy costs have made conservation and efficiency a top priority for homeowners, businesses, and communities all across the country. Though often conflated, efficiency and conservation are distinct strategies designed to reduce your carbon footprint through technology and responsible behavior. In this blog, we’ll explain the differences between each approach (energy conservation vs. energy efficiency) and how they each contribute to sustainable living.
What is Energy Efficiency?
Embracing efficiency allows you to perform the same amount of work with less energy. Making your home or business more energy efficient normally requires investment in new technology. This may include:
- Installing smart thermostats
- Upgrading to a tankless water heater
- Swapping out existing appliances for ENERGY STAR models
- Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
In some cases, regular maintenance can produce similar results. Sealing air leaks, updating your insulation, and weatherstripping your doors minimizes energy loss, while cleaning your furnace and air conditioner helps you heat and cool your building with fewer resources.
What is Energy Conservation?
Conservation requires you to monitor energy habits in order to identify and eliminate wasteful behavior. It relies on small actions that save tiny amounts of energy, but lower utility costs significantly over time. Common ways to conserve energy include:
- Switching off the lights when you leave a room
- Raising the temperature on your thermostat during summer
- Lowering the temperature on your thermostat during winter
- Closing blinds on hot days
- Opening blinds on cold days
- Using ceiling fans to circulate air
- Only running your dishwasher or washing machine with full loads
Businesses interested in conserving energy should post reminders and educate their staff about the importance of smart consumption. Raising awareness is the best way to promote conservation, even in small organizations with only a few employees.
Why Efficiency and Conservation Matter
Even the best systems underperform if not used intelligently. Combining efficiency and conservation maximizes their potential, leading to:
- Lower Costs. Integrating good habits with better technology, you can compound savings ‒ boosting cash flow at home and work.
- Fewer Carbon Emissions. Adopting conservation strategies while improving the efficiency of your equipment reduces the need for fossil fuels.
- Resilience to Supply Disruptions. Smart energy use helps your community stretch available resources, making it less susceptible to price spikes and shortages.
In short, saving energy is important to the environment and your bottom line. While conservation and efficiency each have their merits, blending strategies means that the energy you use is used wisely.
Save on Energy Related Repairs with Agway
Lowering energy consumption takes more than smart choices and the latest technology. It takes professional support. Heating, cooling, and electrical systems wear down over time. Insurance policies don’t cover this type of damage, but we do.
Agway EnergyGuard® protects your furnace, air conditioner, and internal wiring* from problems that stem from daily use. These types of issues are unavoidable, but our experts ensure they’re fixed fast, with high-quality parts and materials in order to ensure optimal performance once they’re back online.
When the need for repair occurs, our customers don’t have to waste time searching for a qualified repairman. They contact us instead. We reach out to our network of electricians and HVAC contractors and send the first available one straight to your door. There are no service fees or deductibles either. We pay for the visit and all covered parts. Don’t let a breakdown lead to long-term problems. Make sure they’re restored to optimal condition by signing up and enjoying the benefits of EnergyGuard today!
*Systems covered depend on commodity purchased.
