Five Fall Tips to Make Madison More Sustainable

As the leaves change color and temperatures start to drop, here are a few sustainability tips to save you money and help our environment: 

1. Get a Free Energy-Savings Pack from Focus on Energy 🧡

Do you miss getting treats on Halloween? You don’t have to miss out this year...Focus on Energy offers free packs full of energy efficient products. Consider getting Energy Star Certified LED bulbs that use 90% less energy than standard bulbs with a significantly longer lifespan. Or grab a high-efficiency showerhead that lowers water and heating bills without compromising performance. Head over to Focus on Energy’s website and fill out an online form to get one free pack per household per year. Also check out Focus on Energy’s marketplace to purchase reduced priced window film, draft blocking door sweeps, pipe insulation wrap, and more.

2. Help Keep our Streets Leaf-Free 🍂

The color-changing leaves are a hallmark of the season. However, these leaves contain phosphorus, which leads to toxic algae blooms in our lakes. When it rains, stormwater flows through leaf piles on our streets, creating a phosphorus rich “leaf tea” that travels through storm drains to our lakes. Check out this flyer to learn how you can help. Tips include composting leaves and yard waste, mulching leaves in place with a lawnmower, and following yard waste pick-up rules.

Raking or removing leaves from the curb before rainstorms has a huge positive impact. Sign up for Leaf-free Streets Rain Alerts (text or email) this fall (Oct 1-Nov 30) for reminders about when it’s time to remove street leaves. Visit this link to sign up! 

3. Breath Easier with a New Air Filter or Purifier 🥧

With fall comes the delicious smell of apple pie and Thanksgiving. Be sure to pick up a discounted air purifier from Focus on Energy to make the most of these qualities. Swing by Focus's website to get a special offer on Energy Star certified products. While you are at it, change the air filter if your heating system has one. These changes will remove particles from the air in your home, including pollen, mold, pet dander and smoke. 

4. Reverse the Rotation of your Ceiling Fan 🍁

Everyone enjoys a crisp fall breeze outside, but does anyone enjoy a chilly indoor breeze? Did you know that you are supposed to adjust the rotation of your ceiling fan in fall? Be sure to have your fan rotate in a clockwise direction. This will help circulate warm air from the ceiling by creating an updraft throughout the room. In the spring, switch the rotation to counterclockwise to facilitate a downdraft movement of cold air throughout the room.

Learn more about fan rotations from the EPA. 

5. Learn if Your Home Could Use Additional Insulation to Keep Warm 🎃

Keep your home warm and cozy this fall with a little extra insulation—it’s like wrapping your house in a comfy sweater. Proper air sealing and insulation is one of the most basic and important steps you can take to achieve year-round comfort while lowering energy costs. Focus on Energy has partnered with participating Trade Ally contractors to perform a visual examination of your home that includes a blower door test that exposes where air and money are slipping through the cracks. Most homes can benefit from additional insulation in the attic, exterior walls, overhangs, sill boxes or the foundation. 

Cash incentives up to $2,250 are available for eligible home improvements. Get started at focusonenergy.com/wholehome or by calling 800-762-7077.