When it comes to protecting water quality, most people don’t think about reducing energy use. But, energy used during the fall and winter for heating homes and businesses comes from power plants that emit nitrous oxides into the atmosphere. Nitrous oxides can contribute to nutrient pollution problems in local waterways when nitrogen falls back to earth with rain and snow.
Viewer Tip: According to the Department of Energy, about 45 percent of home energy use if for space heating. Save money and energy this winter with these simple and inexpensive tips:
- Replace your furnace filter about once a month, or as needed.
For more weather and environment tips, visit Earth Gauge!
(Sources: EPA, “Nutrient Pollution“; Department of Energy, “Fall and Winter Energy-Saving Tips“; Image courtesy of Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection.)
