“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” 

Author Anne Lamott cleverly captures the benefits of unplugging in today’s device-driven, multitasking world. Keeping up with work, family and school activities or the latest trends on social media makes most of us feel compelled to constantly check our devices.

Summer is a great time to take a family vacation, but it’s also a good opportunity to unplug from our devices and enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. Research has shown that we all need downtime after a busy day to recharge — even though we may resist it. Take a moment to slow down and enjoy some peaceful hours away from technology. 

While you’re unplugging from your devices, take a look around your home to identify electronics that consume energy even when they are not in use, also known known as “vampire” energy loss. Televisions, gaming consoles, phone chargers and computers are some of the biggest culprits. 

If your summer plans include a staycation, take time to recharge your relationships and be more present with those you love. Take a stroll on the Fishing Line Trail. Stop by Country Heritage Winery for a wine tasting. Visit Black Pine Animal Sanctuary for a bit of adventure. Enjoy our beautiful surroundings with your family and friends. 

Speaking of spending time outdoors, you can also enjoy energy savings by incorporating LED products and fixtures for outdoor use, such as pathway, step and porch lights. Many include features like automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors. You can also find solar-powered lighting for outdoor spaces.

Save energy by keeping warm summer air outside where it belongs. Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows. You can also employ a programmable thermostat to adjust the settings a few degrees higher when no one is home. 

You can help us control our costs by using less power during our peak load time, from 5-8 p.m. throughout the week. These are the hours when we pay the most for our power. By delaying running your dishwashers or laundry and adjusting your thermostat a few degrees warmer, we can all save money.

In our connected world, we have forgotten how to slow down. We multitask and text. We check email, then voicemail, then Facebook. Do yourself and your family a favor. Put down the device and smell the fresh air. 

While Noble REMC can’t help you recharge your relationships, we can help you save money and energy by connecting you with our energy-saving programs and services. When you do plug back in, we’re just a call or click away.