Earth Day is an annual celebration of environmental support held on April 22. For Union Power Cooperative, it’s a significant time to demonstrate that our mission of providing reliable, safe, and affordable power includes a commitment to doing so in an environmentally responsible way. 

The majority of the electricity that powers your home is generated from clean energy sources including nuclear power, natural gas, and renewable energy. Energy from electricity is cleaner than energy from fossil fuels, and that benefit is amplified as many appliances and machines traditionally powered by fossil fuels are switching to electricity. 

This conversion is called “beneficial electrification,” and according to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), if we increased electricity to 45 percent of the overall energy mix (up from its current level of 18 percent), we could reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 70 percent. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, including Union Power, are leaders in the pursuit of beneficial electrification.

You can recognize Earth Day today and beyond by taking small steps to be more energy efficient. Turning off the lights when leaving a room, unplugging electronics and appliances when they are not in use, and adjusting the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit are just a few examples of easy ways to be more energy efficient. In addition to environmental benefits, these efforts can help spare your wallet by cutting down on energy expenses!