To promote 2022’s Electrical Safety Month this May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is focusing on ways to work toward a “net neutral” energy profile for homes, businesses, and institutions through what they call Energy Resilience. It’s a particularly well-timed campaign for this year as costs for all types of energy are climbing at rates not seen in decades.

ESFI spearheads an annual campaign to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken to reduce the number of electrically-related fatalities and property loss due to fires and injuries. Since its inception in 1990 the program has been adopted by the National Electrical Contractors Association and other organizations including OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

What is “Energy Resilience”?

The idea of Energy Resilience is finding ways to replace energy that would normally be purchased from the utility grid with more environmentally friendly sources. It’s a concept that has been embraced by commercial builders and architects to design “Net Zero” buildings, structures that produce the same amount of energy as they use. But as technology evolves, these options are becoming more viable for homeowners as well.

Moving Toward Energy Independence

• Solar energy has been the go-to path to reducing electrical energy costs for several years, but advances in energy storage systems have made it even more practical for 24-hour use. Spurred by research and development for electric vehicle batteries, higher-capacity, more efficient, and safer storage systems are becoming available to homes and businesses. And that includes the electric vehicles themselves. Today, several vehicles are even capable of providing a home’s backup power for as many as 2-3 days with the proper interface systems and more are on the way.
   
• Wind generation also stands to benefit from improvements in energy storage capacity. Notoriously dependent on fickle winds, wind farms haven’t lived up to their promise of being a reliable energy source, but better storage of wind energy offers hope for the future.
   
• Geothermal energy is another promising source of cheap, clean power for heating homes and domestic water. Combined with solar and building techniques like berming and natural building materials like adobe, homes are being built that are not only energy independent but also produce enough electricity to sell back to utility companies.
   
• Smart thermostats and appliances team up to bring considerable energy savings by regulating power use in more efficient ways like managing use by offering remote access and learning use patterns to adapt settings for maximum savings.
   
• LED lighting has evolved to the point that nearly every need can be met by low-energy, long-lasting, and cool-operating LED lamps and bulbs.

Combined with energy-saving measures like upgraded insulation, weatherstripping, and proper maintenance of buildings and appliances, energy independence is more achievable than ever.

Today’s homes and businesses are highly reliant on electricity to power them and their contents. The pros at Allstar Electrical Services want to remind you that energy saving is only beneficial if devices are integrated safely and efficiently into your home or business electrical system. We’ve designed, installed, and maintained safe and efficient electrical systems that incorporate the latest technology throughout Colorado’s Front Range for over 20 years.

For more ways to save on your energy costs, see this article on the Allstar Electrical Services website. And for more information on the many ways Allstar Electrical Services can help you reach Energy Resilience, call 303.399.7420 or visit our website.