Energy Smart is Climate Smart. 
​As Missoulians, we’re proud of where we live. It takes all of us to make our community healthy, clean, and vibrant. Energy use from our homes and businesses accounts for nearly half of our community's carbon footprint.  Whether you're a renter or homeowner, an energy guru or novice, there are steps we can all take to reduce our use. 
To be Energy Smart, you can: 
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Check out the energy-saving resources below to start saving today
Go deeper with our library of tips to reduce your use, developed as part of our pilot Energy Challenge
Get inspired by the Energy Stories from around our community - then add yours to the map!
Read our 100% Clean Electricity Options Report and share your feedback

How do I start saving?

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Understand your energy footprint

​Calculate your carbon footprint Review your home energy bill
  • If you auto-pay your bill each month, it's probably been awhile since you’ve looked closely at your household energy use. Dig out your old bills and see what patterns you notice. Knowing when your usage spikes can help prioritize where to save energy.
  • The EPA’s Home Energy Yardstick gives you a simple assessment of your home’s annual energy use compared to similar homes. A great way to get started! 
​Get an energy audit
  • Get the lowdown on where your dollars and cents are escaping. Go the super-saver route by signing up for a complete energy audit, or DIY it with the help of the internet and simple devices like a Kill-a-Watt (want to borrow one of ours? Let us know!). Then start checking off the recommended upgrades.
  • Northwestern Energy offers free home energy audits to most residential customers who have not had an audit in the past and whose home is at least five years old. This service is up to a $600 value - sign up today!​
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​So many reasons to save energy...
  • Our community has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 - saving energy is key to how we get there!
  • Everyone benefits from cutting energy use. It’s good for the planet, our budgets, and our community. The cheapest energy is always the energy that we don’t use in the first place!
  • Thinking about going solar? Maximize the value of your investment. Dollar for dollar, when you combine energy efficiency with solar you get greater savings per kilowatt-hour than solar alone.
  • Think of energy saving strategies as part of home maintenance. Smart energy efficiency upgrades can increase the comfort, safety, and long-term value of your home.  ​

Pick the Low-Hanging Fruit: Cheap Ways to Start Saving Today

Energy Smart TipsUse this checklist to help you pick the low hanging fruit!
​Unplug "vampire" appliances
  • Lots of appliances drain power even when off (flat-screen TVs, laptops, phone chargers, game consoles and other electronics are the worst offenders). Unplug them when not in use, or use a power strip that can easily be turned off and on.
Set your thermostat
  • ...to 68 or lower in winter, 78 or higher in summer. Better yet – install a programmable thermostat to optimize comfort and efficiency around the clock.

Replace the lightbulbs you use most often with LEDs
  • They last for many years and are 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and without the mercury that’s in CFLs.

Install a low-flow showerhead and faucet fixtures​
  • Wasted hot water is literally money down the drain! Speaking of hot water, is your water heater working harder than it needs to? Reduce the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees (most are automatically set to 140 degrees) to conserve energy use. You can also install a insulation blanket around your water heater to save 4-9% on water heating costs. If your unit is more than 12 years old, it might be time to replace it with a more energy efficient model. 
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​Do your laundry smarter
  • Your clothes dryer is a huge energy hog! Build or buy a clothesline and/or drying racks. Air drying clothes will save big on energy costs and keep your clothes lasting much longer.
  • Washing clothes in cold water will also save big on energy costs - it will get your clothes just as clean while costing only $0.03 per load!

If you have a ceiling fan, use it during summer AND winter! 
  • To keep your home cool, make sure the blades of your fan are pitched at 12 degrees. Anything more will make your motor work harder, anything less will reduce airflow.
  • To keep your home warm run your ceiling fan clockwise, changing the direction will push warm air down keeping your home nice and toasty while using your  heater less (just make sure your fans are rotating counter clockwise in the summer!)​
What's the difference between efficiency and conservation?
Energy Conservation is any behavior that results in less energy use, from turning the lights off to reusing and recycling materials instead of buying new.
Energy Efficiency is the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. For example, LED light bulbs use less energy to produce the same amount of light as incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

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Smart Home Investments: Add Value and Create Long Term Savings

Seal air leaks
  • ...around windows, doors, and ducts with weather stripping and insulation. Replace old leaky windows if you can.

​When your old appliances bite the dust, replace with high efficiency models
  • Energy Star rates appliances for efficiency: water heaters, furnaces, and refrigerators are especially worthwhile.

Take advantage of available rebates for energy efficiency - even things like insulating basement walls may be eligible!
  • Access a list of incentives available in Montana here. NorthWestern Energy has a good list, too - and so does Missoula Electric Co-op.
  • Most tax credits for residential energy efficiency are available for purchases made in 2016 and retroactive to purchases made in 2015. Details here.
  • Find product rebates and special offers near you here.

And don’t forget...Plant a tree! Yes, really. Trees can help keep your home cool and add value to your property! Some totally cool facts about trees:
  • The net cooling effect of single, young healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-sized air conditioners, running for 20 hours a day. 10 air conditioners, a single tree! Amazing.
  • A tree planted today on the west side of your house will result in a 3% energy savings in five years’ time and 12% savings in fifteen years.
  • Trees on your property near your home account for 10-23% of your home value.
  • Find out more about what to plant and ideas for shade areas on our Summer Smart page!
Even More Info...
  • Check out more energy saving tips and tricks from ACE Hardware, Just Energy, and Energy.gov
  • Got friends elsewhere who would benefit from this info? Check out this comprehensive map showing ALL the renewable energy and energy efficiency policies and incentives in each state!

Go the Extra Mile
  • Get on the map! We’re developing an interactive map with local energy efficiency and clean energy projects, including crowd-sourced Energy Stories. Do you have an Energy Story to share? Tell us!
  • Volunteer! We need creative ideas, photos of energy-saving in action, and help with outreach. Email us today.​
  • Go Solar! If it's an option for you, there's never been a better time. Learn more HERE.
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What was the Energy Smart Challenge?

In the pilot round which ran June through November 2017, participants received a weekly email with concrete energy-saving actions. We tracked participation with monthly surveys that earned points, and active households were eligible for monthly prize drawings. Over 100 Missoulians participated!

The pilot round of the energy challenge has come to a close, but we are gearing up to re-launch with a bigger and better platform soon. Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out our energy smart tips on topics from water to heating and more via the link below..