It’s finally starting to feel like spring. The skis are going back in storage and we’re saying our annual goodbye to our flannel pajamas.
And most importantly, the warm weather stretch means baseball is coming.
While you might not think a company that is working to educate the world on energy efficiency would be excited about a sport where each stadium spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on their energy bill, we are. Of course we wish stadiums would be more energy efficient (and to their credit, sports venues have made huge strides in the last few years to do so), but we’re amped for Opening Day nonetheless.
One thing we love about baseball is how a number of individual contributions can add up to a team’s success. Not every player has to swing for the fences to achieve something great. Sure, you’ve got Hank Aaron in the Hall of Fame with 755 career home runs. But then there’s Tony Gwynn and Ozzie Smith, enshrined in Cooperstown purely as singles hitters. Their seemingly small contributions added up to something truly special.
On the energy efficiency front, the same thinking applies. Not every change you make has to be drastic. A series of minor alterations to your energy habits can create a winning formula.
Single
Don’t keep the refrigerator open as you unpack your groceries. Get everything that needs to be refrigerated consolidated prior to opening the fridge so you’re not wasting energy while putting the cereal away.
Double
Turn off a ceiling fan when you leave the room. Fans don’t cool down rooms. They cool down people with wind chill effect.
Triple
Cut down on long hot showers. This might seem easy enough, but those early-morning showers can stretch on longer than we anticipate as we struggle to wake up. Water heating can account for up to 25% of your energy consumption, so the faster the shower, the lower the bill.
Home runs
Regularly schedule maintenance on your air-conditioning unit. If the system isn’t operating efficiently or correctly, it won’t matter how many small changes you make throughout the house. Before the temperature starts to rise this spring, have someone come out and make sure your cooling units are ready for baseball weather.
…and don’t forget to root for the home team!
