April 2025 - Discipleship by Sharon Astle

*The following article is from URE which is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric and natural gas distribution utility headquartered in Marysville, Ohio.

Celebrate Earth Day: Why Taking Steps to Conserve Matters

April 22nd -- Earth Day -- is a time when we celebrate this beautiful planet we are lucky to call home. Electricity is essential to our daily lives. It gives us opportunities to learn, keeps us safe and comfortable, and provides entertainment. The downside is that every source of energy generation has consequences. Fossil fuels emit carbon. Hydropower dams limit the passage of migrating fish. Even solar panels can’t be made without mining minerals. Using less electricity is a way to mitigate the impact of producing the electricity that powers our lives

Conservation has the best return on investment. It’s often free and can save a little or a lot — depending on what you are changing and how drastic of a change you make. Your biggest energy user in the average household is your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Save energy while you sleep by programming your thermostat to be a few degrees closer to the outside temperature at night. The second biggest energy user is the water heater. Replacing an electric storage water heater with a heat pump/hybrid water heater is a great example of an energy efficient project. Adjusting the temperature setting to the recommended 120 degrees and using less hot water in your home conserves energy. Wash clothes in cold water. When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the hot water run longer than necessary.

Earth Day also lends itself to thinking of ways we can connect with electricity-free opportunities with family or community…Unplug and get outside with friends and family by going for a hike, taking a walk, or just spending time in your yard or local park. We can all be grateful for this planet we call home. It offers so much to sustain us. Any small changes we can make to benefit the planet can add up if we all pitch in.

Celebrate Earth Day every day!