By Madison Gas and Electric Company

Do you wash clothes only in cold water, shut off lights when you leave the room, have a low-flow faucet in your sink, compost to reduce food waste, or recycle? These actions all contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Living more sustainably includes making smart choices about energy. If we all use less energy, we can help reduce carbon emissions, which contribute to climate change. Together, we can create a healthier community with individual, eco-friendly actions. Here is a list of tips to get started

Lower your energy use

LED lights provide better lighting, last longer, and use less energy than incandescent bulbs.

• Use a smart thermostat. They make adjusting the temperature of your home almost effortless, helping you save on heating and cooling costs. For information on a $75 incentive for upgrading to a smart thermostat, visit www.focusonenergy.com/smart.

Take shorter showers. Your water heater will run less. And lowering the temperature on your water heater by a few degrees will help reduce your energy use.

Take advantage of free energy-saving products and incentives. Focus on Energy, our partner in energy efficiency, provides free energy conservation kits containing items like LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads. Learn more at www.focusonenergy.com/simple. 

Use more renewable energy. Consider MGE programs like Green Power Tomorrow and Shared Solar. These programs give customers the option of adding more renewable energy to their household’s energy mix. Learn more about Green Power Tomorrow at www.mge.com/gpt and more about Shared Solar at www.mge.com/sharedsolar.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Use less paper. For a faster, easier, and paperless way to pay your MGE bill, consider paying online with My Bill Pay. Learn more at www.mge.com/mybillpay.
• Reuse bottles, cups and utensils. Refill a reusable bottle or mug when you need water or coffee. Use silverware instead of plastic utensils.
• Recycle. If you do use plastic items, dispose of them in the proper recycling bin. The same goes for aluminum and paper.

Rethink your commute

• Go electric. If it’s time to replace your existing vehicle, consider an electric vehicle (EV). MGE can help you fuel it with our Charge@Home program. We also offer a network of more than 30 public charging stations, all of which are powered by green energy. Visit www.mge.com/LovEV for more information.
• Carpool. Carpooling helps reduce emissions. Transportation accounts for more than 25 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
• Walk or ride your bike. Walking and cycling are not only green options but healthy ones.

To learn more about saving energy, visit energy2030together.com/energyuse.