October is Energy Awareness Month October 20, 2009

President Obama proclaimed October 2009 as Energy Awareness Month with a theme of A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together. Here’s a poster that you can hang at work or school. For materials and ideas to promote energy-saving practices, visit the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) website. Another great resource is the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) new energy education resource site for teachers and students, called Energy Explained; Your Guide to Understanding Energy. Here you can learn about nonrenewable energy sources (gasoline, diesel, heating oil etc) as well as renewable ones (eg. geothermal, solar, wind), and get lots of facts and statistics. You can even search by state to see what kind of energy is produced there. Lucky Washingtonians get most of their power from hydroelectric, not dirty coal, as in many eastern states. Take a cruise around the site. It’s fascinating! And while you’re at it, don’t forget to turn off those unused (compact fluorescent) lights…and use mass transit… and drive a fuel-efficient car (only when necessary, of course)…and buy Energy Star products!