Since 2009, EEA has helped its customers understand and potentially reduce their electricity usage with the use of Kill A Watt™ electricity usage monitors.  Participating libraries located in Monticello, UT, Cortez, Mancos, Dolores, and Dove Creek, have a limited number of Kill A Watt™ monitors available for loan, similar to checking out a book or video.

These plug-in energy monitors are leaving the shelves at public libraries to help assess how efficient appliances really are. The monitor comes with basic instructions and some helpful hints from library personnel. It displays the power consumption in kilowatt-hours which is how EEA reports energy usage on customers' monthly bills and can assist in household budgeting.

This program provides a “no cost” way to reduce energy usage and identify the real energy abusers. Customers are reporting that they "unplug appliances when not in use to save energy."

EEA offers free recycling of household compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in our main office. We cannot accept tube-shaped fluorescent lighting. CFLs can also be dropped off at Slavens in Cortez. The Montezuma County Landfill will recycle fluorescent tubes and CFLs for a fee.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

As your incandescent bulbs burn out, it’s a good time to switch to LED bulbs. The LEDs have an impressive lifespan of 20 years or more helps justify the purchase.

It’s not about watts anymore! Get a sense of brightness in lumens. The higher the lumen light output, the more light emitted. Compare wattage in the bulb to be replaced with the LED lumens to get the equivalent light output. 

LEDs can display different hues – a color range from warm reds to a spectrum of cool whites.  To replace the light of a typical incandescent bulb in your home, look for “warm white” or “soft white” on the packaging. Bulbs labeled “white light” or “daylight” produce a whiter light often used for outdoors, shops and task lighting. 

Most LEDs can be dimmed; however LEDs consume such a low wattage, many existing dimmers may not function well.  Use the LED manufacturer recommended low wattage dimmers or find LED bulbs compatible with traditional dimmers. 

Thermal Management: Don’t enclose LEDs!  They do produce a small amount of heat, so if placed in an enclosed housing, the heat will have no place to go except back to the bulb, thus reducing the life of the lamp.  Look for LEDs designed for enclosed spaces or those built into the fixture.