Resource Center

Energy Use Reduction

Reducing our electricity consumption can help improve our air quality, reduce our dependence on foreign fuels, curb our greenhouse gas emissions, prevent the construction of more power plants, reduce the risk of blackouts, and save us all money on electric bills.

By equipping our buildings to use less energy and informing our community about how to conserve, we can mitigate the effects of potential price increases in the future. These efforts align well with existing state and federal programs such as the EmPOWER Maryland Initiative, Governor O’Malley’s goal of reducing electricity consumption in the state by 15% by the year 2015, and the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program of which the City of Baltimore is a member. Here are six strategies to help:

  • Require aggressive energy efficiency standards as part of the Baltimore Green Building Standards
  • Increase energy conservation by residents, City government, businesses, and institutions
  • Improve the energy efficiency of existing homes and buildings
  • Increase renewable energy generation in Baltimore City
  • Consider efficiency upgrades to homes at point of sale
  • Leverage state and federal funds for energy efficiency
Metrics:
Partner Organizations:
What You Can Do
  1. Sign up for the BGE Quick Home Energy Check-Up
  2. Replace your lightbulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs)
  3. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer
  4. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed
  5. Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer
  6. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle
  7. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use
  8. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use
  9. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F
  10. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes
  11. Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
  12. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products.