Energy Saving Tips

For something as ubiquitous as electric lighting, it may be hard to imagine a time when our homes were without it. However, using electricity for residential illumination only became common in the U.S. during the 1940s. Since then, we’ve been extendi...

While demand for tankless water heaters continues to increase, more than 95% of homes have conventional storage tank heaters installed. About half use electric resistance or heat pump technology to produce hot water, while the other half uses natural...

During this time of the year, many are switching their thermostats from “cooling” to “heating” mode.  This is also a good time to check and change filters in heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. Some may have not been replaced since the start of the c...

Air compressors have been a versatile tool over the years and compressed air has been one of the driving forces of modern-day life. From simply airing up a tire to a plethora of applications in heavy industrial processes, compressed air has a wide ra...

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey indicates that homes in our part of the Midwest consume nearly 9% of their electricity completing laundry. In addition to providing energy savings, all-in-one was...

As the heat of summer cranks up, so do the central air conditioners and heat pumps across Nebraska. In fact, approximately 90% of homes in our state have one of these central cooling systems. The vast majority have a compressor unit that buzzes outsi...

Of the more than one million food service businesses in the United States, the National Restaurant Association estimates more than 260,000 are full-service restaurants. Considering the average restaurant serves about 100 customers per day, that means...

In June of 1752, Benjamin Franklin and his son, William, conducted the famous kite-in-a-thunderstorm experiment to demonstrate the relationship between lightning and electricity. By attaching the kite to a Leyden jar, which was an early type of batte...

First introduced in the 1950s, recessed lighting or “can lighting” is still a popular choice for residential and commercial lighting. Traditionally, these fixtures consist of a cylindrical or square-shaped metal housing that extends above the ceiling...

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is committed to working in partnership with local utility customers to maximize the value of their energy purchases in a cost-effective manner. To understand its importance in our future, we need to examine where...

Can you think back to your childhood and remember the “magic” of icicles? While growing up in a century-old farm house, I remember wintry “No School” days when my mom would bundle me up in so many layers of sweatshirts, coats and overalls that I coul...

Many Nebraska homes use an air-source heat pump (ASHP) to provide indoor comfort during the winter season. Considering 40% of average annual residential energy is used to keep homes warm, ASHPs provide higher energy efficiency than any furnace. As a ...

If you’re one of the more than 4,600 Nebraskans with an electric vehicle (EV) registered in Nebraska this year, congratulations! According to www.fueleconomy.gov, your vehicle converts more than 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at ...

From October through March, the average Nebraska home consumes more than one-third of its annual energy requirements to keep warm and cozy. It is no wonder heating is the largest energy expenditure most people have. Here are a few ways to keep a few ...

Wind washing: It’s not a new, evolutionary way of laundering clothes. It’s not a water-conserving approach to personal hygiene. It’s not even a technique for cleaning dirty windows. Rather, wind washing is the movement of unconditioned air around or ...

How much electricity can you save by using ceiling fans to keep cool this year? That depends on how you use them. Take a moment to understand how they can keep you cool while potentially saving some “green” in your electric bill. Unlike your air cond...

Business owners and managers are always looking for ways to reduce costs and improve productivity in their office facilities. There is no exception when it comes to energy costs and usage. Some compare current utility bills to the prior month’s or du...

What is the difference between energy conservation and energy efficiency? Since the early 1970s, the term “energy conservation” has been characterized by a “save it” mentality after sudden energy price and supply issues impacted the world. People fou...

If you live in Nebraska, you know it can get hot in the summer. But if you live in the eastern half of the state, you probably know with heat usually comes humidity, which can make things sticky! The amount of moisture or water vapor in the air is mo...

With winter behind us, many start thinking about how to keep cool in the summer months ahead. Keeping homes cool and dehumidified, especially in eastern Nebraska, is important for comfort as well as the overall health of the house. But memories of hi...

As the last snow melts, days become longer and temperatures rise, many start checking off items from their annual deep-cleaning list.  Scrub buckets, mops, brooms, sponges and cleaning supplies are pulled from shelves to tackle jobs that may only be ...

From introduction to capturing the majority of the market for residential lighting, no other energy efficient technology has been adopted more quickly than the light-emitting diode (LED) bulb. Before 2014, medium base, screw-in LEDs were nearly nonex...

Peter Drucker, known as the inventor of modern business management, is credited with saying: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” When making the most of the energy used in your home or business, simply researching “energy efficiency im...

Though winter does not officially begin until Dec. 21, you’ve likely used your home’s heating system(s) by now considering, well, this is Nebraska! Most people assume since the equipment seemed to work fine when turn they turned the thermostat up, th...

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has designated October as Energy Awareness Month. This recognition comes at the perfect time because, as winter approaches, it’s easy to overlook many different areas in our homes and businesses where ener...

Remember going to the store in the “good old days” to purchase a pack of light bulbs? Once in the bulb section, may have noticed several brands, but one 60-watt bulb was likely the same as the next. You knew how bright it would be, how its color (war...

According to the United States Small Business Administration, more than 99% (or more than 180,000) of all registered companies or commercial operations in Nebraska are classified as “small businesses.” Anyone living in rural Nebraska knows they are t...

How about some statistics regarding the United States’ favorite beverage and the energy needed to keep our cups full? Behind water and tea, coffee is the most-consumed beverage around the world and with 66% of all Americans drinking coffee daily, we ...

When it comes to irrigation, there is no place like Nebraska. By the time the 2007 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey was conducted, Nebraska overtook California as the state with the largest number of irr...

With summer coming, Nebraskans are about to use around 10% of their average home’s energy needs in a few short months. Yes, it’s air-conditioning season again! Many only consider the status of their cooling system when it becomes stuffy inside and th...

When was the last time your home’s thermostat was adjusted to reduce energy costs? A 2018 survey indicated that only half of Nebraskans living outside metropolitan areas were very likely to adjust their thermostat when leaving home. Considering about...

While installing new locks and adding cameras to exterior doors can reduce the chance of an  unwanted person entering your home, they add little security against another uninvited intruder: air leakage. When conditioned air exits a home through small...

The Oxford English Dictionary cites the phrase, if it’s “too good to be true” was first written in 1580. More than 500 years later, this expression seems to apply to every facet of modern times; powering our daily lives is no exception. After learnin...

The cost of decking the halls, devouring delectable holiday treats, imbibing fine spirits and celebrating with family and friends over the holidays can really add up. Here are a few efficiency ideas to lighten their impact on your finances, schedules...

Think quick: What is the most common side dish to serve with a cheeseburger? Naturally, you said “French fries”. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture cited during the 2000s, U.S. per capita consumption of frozen potatoes averaged 55 p...