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CUB Tips

We asked CUB supporters for their best energy efficiency tips

This month, we asked email subscribers to submit their best energy efficiency tips and we got many creative answers outside of CUB’s standard energy efficiency tips. Here’s a few of our favorite submissions:   Victoria: “I spent some of my early years in Atlanta, GA in the 1940s and learned from…...

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Renting your first apartment in Chicago? Here’s how to read your utility bills

By: Citlali Dominguez So you just moved into your new apartment, and you’re having trouble reading your utility bills. Don’t panic, CUB is here to help!  We’ll start with electricity! A simple way to understand your bill is, supply + delivery + taxes & fees = amount due. Supply, what…...

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Jumpstart your spring cleaning with energy efficiency tips from CUB

It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember, energy efficiency is just as important during hot weather as it is in cold, so consider adding these home maintenance tasks to your spring cleaning checklist:   Air conditioning maintenance. A properly maintained AC system can help you save hundreds…...

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Protect yourself from utility disconnections

Protect yourself from disconnection with the following tips. Be proactive. If you’re having difficulty paying your bills, call your utility. Here are the direct hotlines for major Illinois utilities: Ameren Illinois – 1-800-755-5000 Aqua Illinois – 1-877-987-2782 ComEd – 1-800-334-7661 Illinois American Water – 1-800-422-2782 Nicor Gas – 1-888-642-6748 North…...

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Washington Post: Hiring a contractor for home electrification projects? Ask these questions!

The Washington Post provided a helpful checklist of key questions to ask for consumers wanting to electrify their homes. “Home upgrades are rarely easy, but home electrification projects present a novel challenge,” writes Climate Advice Columnist Michael J. Coren. “The technology inside modern appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters,…...

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Spring into savings with CUB’s energy efficiency tips

It’s time to get your home ready for warmer weather. Remember: Energy efficiency is just as important during the spring and summer as it is during the winter so make sure to include these home maintenance tasks on your spring cleaning checklist:   Air conditioning maintenance. Clean or replace your air…...

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Five questions every gas and electric customer should ask when reading their bills

CUB holds hundreds of events across Illinois to analyze consumer utility bills, but we also want to make sure people know to read it themselves if needed. “If you get a high bill, it’s important to ask a few questions,” said CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen. Here are five questions…...

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CUB’s 5 ways to mark Earth Week (and any week!)

In this week leading up to Earth Day, on Saturday April 22, we’ve rounded up a list of five ways you can mark the moment, with the help of CUB resources. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in our Planet,” which fits nicely with CUB’s message that clean energy…...

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What’s the deal with air source heat pumps? CUB investigates

By David Weaver Carbon Free Buildings Coordinator Do you have questions about Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)? What are they? How do they work? Are they capable of heating my home in the winter? Will they save me money? Should I make the switch?  These are all important questions that…...

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A guide to energy efficiency programs for income-qualified households

By Kate Shonk Sustainable Communities Liason Facing high energy prices and the rising cost of living, many consumers want to cut down on their monthly utility bills. In Illinois, consumers have access to energy efficiency programs offered by utility companies–including ones for income-qualified households.  The programs designed for lower-income customers…...

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