Earth Day is coming up Thursday, April 22nd! Launched in 1970, Earth Day is now the largest secular observance in the world, recognized by more than a billion people taking action on issues including energy conservation and clean energy.

This year, Earth Day 2021 will mark the 51st anniversary of this holiday; this year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth.”

In past years, Earth Day events range from beach and river cleanups to large-scale initiatives. With social distancing still in place for many of us, Earth Day is going digital with virtual events and individual opportunities to improve energy conservation around your home or community. If you are the owner of an electric vehicle, take part in a Drive Electric Earth Day event!

Most importantly, Earth Day is an opportunity to build habits for a more energy-efficient home or to take small steps each day to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve energy and save money. 

10 Simple Earth Day Actions to Save Energy

1. Take a walk or a bike ride instead of driving for a carbon-free activity. 

2. Install heavier drapes to keep your home cooler in the summer (and warmer in the winter). DIY tip: You can also use batting (or quilting insulation) and lining fabric with a close weave such as muslin to make your existing drapes energy efficient! 

3. Switch up meals and use your outdoor grill as often as you can. This saves your home from needing additional cooling energy!

4. Spring can offer nice days to line dry or air dry your clothes. Dryers can also be noisy, so line drying can ensure one less sound to contend with on remote conference calls. 

5. We’re all spending more time in the home, so replacing air filters in your HVAC system every three months is important to increase your unit’s efficiency, which saves you energy. If you have pets that shed, you may need to change filters more often. 

6. Replace old-style incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. They last longer than their incandescent counterparts and cost a lot less for you to keep the lights on. Also use solar-powered outdoor lights for pathways, sidewalks, or floodlighting. 

7. On cooler days, capture that passive solar energy by pulling back drapes and curtains to use more daylight to naturally light your home. 

8. On nice days, open doors and windows to cool your home naturally.  

9. Make sure all seals are weathertight on windows and doors will keep your home energy efficient. Use our handy checklist for spring-summer energy-saving tips. 

10. For small loads of dishes, handwashing is more efficient than running your dishwasher. It’s also another opportunity to wash your hands!

While April 22nd is a great day to focus on energy efficiency and the role clean energy can play in our communities. Tri-State is taking steps as well to ensure the energy you do use is increasingly clean, with lower emissions. Check with your local electric cooperative or Public Power District for other programs, incentives, and tips to reduce your bill and carbon footprint. 

How Can I Participate?

Tag or mention us on Facebook and Instagram or Tweet us @TriStateGT using #EarthDayCoop and we’ll retweet and share some of the most inspiring examples from our members’ community. 

Our Responsible Energy Plan

Together with our electric cooperatives and public power district members, we are expanding renewable energy generation and reducing emissions while ensuring reliable, affordable, and responsible electricity for the communities we power.

We have a vision for the future in which the benefits of an economy-wide energy transition – from cleaner air to economic opportunity to a greener grid – are shared with everyone.

Our Responsible Energy Plan (REP) outlines our commitments and goals to help make that vision a reality. With this plan, we can achieve an energy transition that allows us to be responsible to our members, our communities, our employees, and our environment.

Electrify and Save™ 

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About Tri-State

Tri-State is a power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, serving electric distribution cooperatives and public power district member-owners in four states. Together with our members, we deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. Visit www.tristate.coop.