PORTLAND, Ore. — April 21, 2017 — Participating in Earth Day can take many forms, from attending community fairs and cleaning up riversides to biking or planting a tree. Energy Trust of Oregon’s energy solutions provide another meaningful way to take part in this 45-year-old event.

Energy Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping residents and businesses lower their utility bills, save energy and lighten their carbon footprints. With support from Energy Trust, participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista have saved more than $2.3 billion on their energy bills. At the same time, their energy-efficiency and renewable power investments avoid carbon dioxide emissions and lead to cleaner skies.

This Earth Day, Oregonians can turn to Energy Trust to find trade ally contractors and cash-back incentives for installing energy-saving improvements and producing their own power from the sun, water and other renewable resources. Earth Day actions that save energy can also range from no-cost changes, like unplugging electronics when not in use, to low-cost changes such as switching out energy-wasting light bulbs for new, lower-priced LEDs from local retailers.

Here are some energy-saving actions you can take this Earth Day:

• Upgrade to ENERGY STAR^® LEDs as they are tested for quality and long-lasting energy performance. Find out which LED light is the right fit by using Energy Trust’s helpful online lighting tool at www.energytrust.org/lightbulb.
• Turn off the lights when they’re not needed.
• Install water-saving showerheads and faucet aerators.
• Unplug battery chargers for mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other devices when not in use — they use energy even when they’re not actively charging anything.
• Let hot foods cool before putting them in the fridge or freezer. Storing hot food makes a fridge or freezer work harder to cool down.
• Wash and rinse laundry with cold water and run full loads whenever possible.
• Dry two or more loads in a row when doing laundry to take advantage of the heat that’s still in the dryer from previous loads. Hang clothes to air dry when possible.

Visit Energy Trust’s website for more no-cost and low-cost energy-saving tips plus information on available cash incentives.

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista save more than $2.3 billion on energy bills. Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.

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