National Cut Your Energy Costs Day is a holiday that encourages everyone to assess their energy usage and find ways to reduce it. It is celebrated on January 10th and is designed to make people rethink how they use energy in their homes or businesses. On this day, individuals can weatherproof their homes, turn down their thermostats, use smart power strips, or turn off lights that aren’t in use. Although this holiday occurs only once a year, it will hopefully serve as a springboard for those looking to decrease their energy consumption throughout the year.

The History of National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

At this point, we don’t know who initiated this holiday or when it was established. We do know that it has been recognized since before 2019, but beyond that piece of information, the origins of this holiday remain unknown.

Facts About Cutting Your Energy Costs

If you’re looking to reduce costs in your home on this day, or any other day of the year, then you might want to consider some of the following points. The bullet points listed below provide useful information that you can apply to save energy and, in the process, save money.

• Well-placed trees and bushes can reduce energy costs by up to $250 a year.
• Toasters, microwaves, and countertop grills all use less energy than a full-size oven, and they don’t significantly raise the temperature of the home.
• If your computer is left on all day, it can add an extra $75 a year to your electric bill.
• Programmable thermostats can save you up to $150 a year—if they’re used correctly.
• Switching your incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) can lead to a 75% reduction in the energy used by your lights.
• Placing televisions or lamps near air conditioning thermostats can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
• Setting your air conditioner a mere 6 degrees warmer can save up to 18% on your cooling bill.

Observing National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day can be observed by reducing your energy consumption where possible. This can include actions as simple as replacing your incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs, turning down your heat during the winter, or using a smart energy strip that turns off power strategically. You can also consider solar heating systems, take shorter showers, or wash your clothes in cold water for the day. While you’re saving all that energy (as well as money), don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalCutYourEnergyCostsDay on your social media accounts to spread the word to others.