This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

Tools You Can Use: Earth Day Edition

Summary: 
Here are some great tools to help you do your part throughout the year by saving energy and increasing energy efficiency at home and on the road.

Today is Earth Day, an important time to reflect on the importance of protecting the future health of our planet in the face of climate change.

But this challenge is bigger than one day of action, and we all have to play a role in forging a healthier, greener and better world for our children-- not just on Earth Day, but every day.

Here are some great tools to help you do your part throughout the year by saving energy and increasing energy efficiency at home and on the road.

How energy efficient is your home?

EPA's Home Energy Yardstick provides a simple assessment of your home's annual energy use compared to similar homes. Answer a few basic questions about your home to see:

  • Your home's Home Energy Yardstick score on a scale of 1 to 10
  • Insights into how much of your home's energy use is related to heating and cooling versus other everyday uses like appliances, lighting, and hot water
  • Links to guidance from ENERGY STAR on how to increase your home's score, improve comfort, and lower utility bills
  • An estimate of your home's annual carbon emissions

Get started here


Can a hybrid car save you money?

Provide a few pieces of information like how many miles you drive each year, how often you drive in the city, and the price of fuel in your area and find out how much you'd save driving a range of hybrid vehicles compared to their non-hybrid counterparts.

Head over to fueleconomy.gov to how much you might save


How much does it cost to fuel an electric vehicle?

On average, it costs about three times less to drive an electric vehicle compared to one that runs on gasoline.

Find out how much it costs in your state


Do you qualify for energy efficiency tax credits?

Government agencies, utilities and others offer a variety of tax credits, rebates and other incentives to support energy efficiency, encourage the use of renewable energy sources, and support efforts to conserve energy and lessen pollution.  

Find savings that may be available to you or your business based on where you live


See more tools from across the government that can make your life easier.