DCSEU

5 Ways to Cut Waste, and Pocket the Savings, with Energy Efficiency

best led bulbs dcseu

Second annual Energy Efficiency Day on October 5 urges Americans to “Save Energy. Save Money.”

Smarter energy use means we don’t have to generate as much power to meet our needs. Energy efficiency offers us the most bang for our buck, helping stretch resources to make our homes, schools, and businesses more comfortable and efficient. There’s a lot of untapped potential, which is why October 5 is so important — Energy Efficiency Day.

A collaborative effort between hundreds of government agencies, businesses, utilities, and individuals working to promote energy efficiency, EEDay started last year, with hundreds of municipalities participating.

Here are five ways you can save energy and money at home.

1. Make the Switch to LEDs

With LEDs as low as 95 cents per bulb at DCSEU Partner Retailers, it’s never been easier to upgrade and save. You can save approximately nine percent of your home’s annual energy costs by switching five of your home’s most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR certified LEDs. Ready to make the switch? Join the lightbulb challenge online here.

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2. Seal Leaks

On average, heating and cooling account for almost half of your home’s energy consumption. You can save up to 20 percent on heating costs by caulking windows, sealing leaks around chimneys and recessed lighting, and sliding draft guards under your doors.

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3. Heat Efficiently (more…)

This is How the DCSEU is Helping DC Businesses Save Money

best LED lights in DC

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money.

Lighting consumes between 20 and 50 percent of a business’ electricity bill, and LEDs use 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer. So, it’s a no-brainer how DC businesses can lower not only their electricity bill, but also their lighting maintenance costs.

Now they can save on even the initial cost to upgrade with the help of the DCSEU, through its recently-launched Instant Business Rebates program.

Partnering with District Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) lighting distributors, the DCSEU offers instant rebates on energy-efficient tube, pin-, and screw-based lighting, making it easy and affordable for District businesses to save money.

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By purchasing directly from these distributors, businesses who wish to upgrade their lighting to save energy and money will get a $3 to $5 discount per bulb at the time of purchase — a first for DC businesses.

When purchasing from alternative sources, businesses can still take advantage of DCSEU lighting rebates by paying full price for qualified lighting and then submitting an application to receive a rebate from the DCSEU for qualified lighting.

The initiative also supports local businesses by currently only working with CBE distributors. In order to be eligible for CBE certification, a business must meet a local standard to demonstrate that it is a bona fide District-based business.

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The DCSEU is committed to creating economic opportunities for District businesses, especially CBEs, through energy efficiency. By working with CBE distributors, the DCSEU can offer lighting rebates to District contractors and businesses at the time of purchase.

For distributors interested in participating, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

For business owners looking to find a CBE and get started with their lighting upgrade, check the DCSEU website.

Here’s a Cool Way to Amp Up Your Home’s IQ

wifi thermostat from nest

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money.

Are you smarter than your home? With all the new artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that’s available, sometimes we can’t be so sure. But the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) is partnering with Nest to help make that happen.

They’re doing it by enabling smart savings. How? First, visit smart.dcseu.com to get your unique $100 coupon code. Next, use that code when you buy your smart thermostat through the Nest website.  Buy your thermostat before July 8th to get a total of $150 off the purchase price with Nest’s limited time Fourth of July discount.

The DCSEU, which helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money, is also offering $100 mail-in rebates on Ecobee and Honeywell smart thermostats. But Nest is the only manufacturer where you can get instant savings at the point of purchase.

wifi thermostat

How smart are smart thermostats? Built-in sensors track your whereabouts in the house, and its algorithmic smarts keeps track of when you turn the heat up or down. In about a week it creates a custom temperature schedule, and saves energy by turning itself down when you leave the house. A key feature of the Nest is “Farsight”–it can detect you from 20 feet away, and will greet your presence by lighting up with an easy-to-see temperature reading.

Smart thermostats are also Wi-Fi and mobile app capable. With a flick of a finger on a smartphone or a swipe on a tablet you can control your thermostat from anywhere.

Get your code for $100 instant savings on a Nest thermostat by visiting smart.dcseu.com and purchasing your Nest on www.Nest.com.

7 ways to keep your energy bill down this summer

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Living in the District during the summer months usually means three things: heat, humidity, and high energy bills. With the average July high temperature in the upper 80s and humidity hovering in the high-60% range, running your air conditioner can wreak havoc on your wallet – but it doesn’t have to. The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps D.C. residents make smart energy choices, including offering rebates of up to $500 for central air conditioning systems. By maintaining your air conditioning equipment and purchasing a properly sized unit for your cooling needs, you can save without sacrificing comfort in your home.

Following are 7 ways you can keep your energy bill down, no matter how hot it gets. (more…)

Sponsored: Get Ready for Winter with 5 Energy-Saving Tips from the DCSEU

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Photo: thisisbossi

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Worried about how to heat your home this winter? As the last leaves fall and the weather gets cooler, District residents can look to the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) for help saving money and energy, starting with these tips.

Photo: CraXplore
Photo: CraXplore

1. A great place to start lowering your energy costs is through proper maintenance of your heating system. You can find a contractor and schedule an annual tune-up to avoid any unforeseen complications with your equipment.

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Photo: sub35089

2. To get the most out of your system, you can also ensure that your home is properly air-sealed and insulated by scheduling an energy audit.  (more…)

Sponsored Post: District Businesses Saving Money and Energy with the DC SEU

UnionKitchen and Jonas

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When Cullen Gilchrest and Jonas Singer, co-owners of Union Kitchen, approached the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU), they planned to buy new appliances for the over 40 culinary entrepreneurs (TaKorean and Curbside Cupcakes, just to name a few) working out of Union Kitchen’s industrial kitchen space, but weren’t sure where to start.

“You hear about energy inefficiency, but you’re not sure about what you can do to fix it,” said Gilchrist. “DC SEU staff helped us understand how to save a lot of money and electricity.”

As DC SEU staff walked through the facility, they identified quick and easy lighting upgrades, controls to manage energy use, opportunities for operational improvement, and appliances eligible for rebates from the DC SEU. The rebate application process revealed that some equipment was inaccurately advertised as energy-efficient and DC SEU staff explained why and how Union Kitchen could get the quality of equipment they expected from vendors for future purchases. Not only did Union Kitchen receive rebates for purchasing more energy-efficient appliances, but their work with the DC SEU will help them save money and energy for years to come and create a better facility for the burgeoning businesses working there.

“The DC SEU is proud to help businesses across the District like Union Kitchen become more energy-efficient,” said Ted Trabue, Managing Director of the DC SEU. “Energy efficiency allows owners to take the money they save and invest it back in their business, which helps grow the local economy and create jobs in the District.”

For more information on how the DC SEU helps District businesses and residents save money and energy, visit www.dcseu.com.

Advertisement: DC SEU Offers District Residents Opportunities to Save Energy, Money

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If you’ve recently purchased a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) in DC, chances are you paid significantly less for it than you used to. What you may not know, though, is that these prices dropped thanks to the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DC SEU).

Working with lighting manufacturers and local retailers, the DC SEU brought down the cost of CFLs significantly, from an average of $8 to as low as $0.99. Starting in July, some stores began offering LEDs at reduced prices as well, making the typically costlier LED technology much more affordable. With participating stores in every ward, including a number of locally-owned businesses, now is a great time to upgrade to save energy, reduce your electric bill, and improve the quality of lighting in your home.

“We’re proud to be working with over 50 retailers throughout the District to reduce the cost of energy-efficient lighting for residents,” said Ted Trabue, Managing Director of the DC SEU. “It’s just one part of the work we do in our commitment to saving Washingtonians money, providing DC residents green jobs, and building a cleaner, brighter energy future for the city.”

Beyond lighting, the DC SEU offers residents a number of ways to save. Right now, they are offering $50 rebates on the purchase of ENERGY STAR® clothes washers and refrigerators, as well as rebates of up to $850 on the purchase and installation of gas water heaters, furnaces, and boilers. Homeowners who are unsure of where to start can contact the DC SEU. They’ll match you with a qualified contractor who will perform an audit to identify improvements—air sealing and insulation, for example— that will save energy and improve the comfort of your home year-round.

To find out more about the DC SEU, including where you can purchase reduced-price CFLs and LEDs, visit www.dcseu.com or contact the DC SEU at 202-479-2222 or [email protected].

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility is a project of the Sustainable Energy Partnership under contract to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE).