(Newark, N.J. – April 22, 2024) – Public Service Electric & Gas Co. (PSE&G), the largest utility in New Jersey, today announced five steps customers and communities can take to be “Earth Heroes” in observance of Earth Day on April 22. This initiative builds on PSEG’s “Earth Heroes Work Here” campaign, emphasizing the role we all play in preserving the environment.

Here are five steps that you can take to be an Earth Hero:

• Update your home or business with solar power, smart thermostats and/or energy efficient appliances
• Consider an electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid car
• Take public transportation or carpool to school and work
• Run major appliances off peak
• Unplug electronics when not using them

“When it comes to protecting the planet, our customers and communities, and curbing climate change, all of us have a role to play,” said Dave Johnson, vice president Customer Care and chief customer officer of PSE&G. “We’re working to lower emissions, protect the environment and support the communities we serve, but we can’t do it alone. These are actionable steps our customers can take to help.”

Update your home or business

You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours¹. So, someone who keeps the temperature at 68 degrees each night can lower it by six degrees and save 10% a year. Also, replacing your thermostat with a smart thermostat allows you to better regulate the temperature in your home or business facility, reducing temperatures when you’re away or overnight, which reduces the amount of energy used and saves money. Learn how to get rebates for smart thermostats up to $100 here.

As a renewable source of power, solar energy plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Adding solar power to your home can save an average of $1,530² on your annual utility bill. Learn more here.

In addition to saving money on your energy bills and providing ways to reduce emissions, PSE&G offers rebates for energy efficient HVAC systems, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioners, ventilation fans, dishwashers, washers & dryers, refrigerators & freezers, smart thermostats and water heaters. Learn more here.

Consider an electric or hybrid vehicle

Transportation is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey³ and driving an EV or hybrid vehicle reduces emissions significantly⁴.  Over the last decade, the number of EVs on the road in NJ has skyrocketed, from 338 in 2012 to more than 167,000 today. That number is expected to continue to grow as the state moves towards its goal of 330,000 EVs by 2025 served by 400 fast chargers and 1,000 Level 2 chargers. With new makes and models being developed, and an increase in charging infrastructure, going electric is a fun way to be an Earth Hero.  Learn more about PSE&G’s EV rebate program here.

Walk, take transit or carpool when possible

Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool, or use mass transit. Avoiding just ten miles of driving each week eliminates about 500 pounds of carbon emissions per year⁵. You can reduce carbon emissions by another 30% if you take public transportation. One person commuting alone by car, who switches a 20-mile round trip commute to existing public transportation, can reduce their annual emissions by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10% reduction in all greenhouse gases produced by a typical two-adult, two-car household.⁶ Learn more here.

Run major appliances off peak

Simple changes like running your dishwasher or washing machine during off peak hours can save you 50% on energy costs⁷.

Unplug electronics when not in use

When you’re done charging your phone or other device, unplug the charger to save energy. Unused, plugged in electronics account for five to 10 percent of residential energy use, and could cost the average U.S. household as much as $100 per year⁸. Learn more here.

“All of these efforts support our vision of a future where people use less energy and it is cleaner, safer and more reliable than ever,” Johnson said.

Learn more about PSEG’s  efforts to protect the environment here, and specific Earth Day activities here.

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PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G is the 2022 Edison Award recipient from the Edison Electric Institute. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 21 consecutive years. For the second consecutive year, PSE&G is the recipient of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category. In addition, J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction for both Residential Electric and Natural Gas Service in the East among Large Utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 15 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).

¹ https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/why-energy-efficiency-upgrades

² https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/solar/savings-with-solar-panels/#:~:text=Based%20on%20our%20research%2C%20homeowners,by%20installing%20a%20solar%20system

³ https://dep.nj.gov/drivegreen/reduce-emissions/

⁴ https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.html

⁵ https://hr.umich.edu/sites/default/files/green-facts-%202015.pdf

⁶ https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/resources/reportsandpublications/Documents/greenhouse_brochure.pdf

⁷ https://www.homeworksenergy.com/energy-saving-tip-dishwashers/ [homeworksenergy.com]

⁸ https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/3-easy-tips-reduce-your-standby-power-loads