Are you headed out on a Spring Break vacation?
While you might be busy packing and dreaming of being away from home, it’s also important to think about your home too! How awesome would it be if you came back to a smaller electric bill that month? Add these quick and easy energy-saving tips to your packing and prep list to save a little money while you are away!
Make Changes Your Temperature Settings
If everyone will be out of your home, there is no need to keep the heater or air conditioner running, or at least not much!
During the Spring in most areas, you shouldn’t turn the heater completely off. However, you could set the thermostat much lower than you would while you are at home: Lowering the control to around 50 degrees will save energy, but keep the house warm enough to keep appliances and pipes from freezing.
Hint: Do you have a programmable thermostat? Set the temperature to return to your favorite temperature for the date you arrive home.
Unplug!
Even with major appliances turned to the “off” position, there are many ways electricity is being used. These appliances – which can really be “energy vampires” – still drain energy while plugged in. Check out these ideas for items that can be unplugged while no one is in the home, because no one will be around to use them:
Televisions
Lamps
Coffee makers
Digital clocks
Cell phone chargers
Microwave
DVD players
Computer speakers
Printers
Video game consoles
Cable box
Bonus: You are not only saving energy and money by unplugging these items; you are eliminating the risk of a possible fire hazard if there were to be a fire surge while you are away. If you have any questions on how to handle specific electronics, try looking at the guide that came with it, when possible.
Close your blinds and curtains.
Close Up the House
Lower all your blinds and shutting all your available curtains while you are away. This will keep heat OUT in the summer, and keep it IN during the winter. This will slow the rising and lowering of the internal temperature, helping maintain a steadier climate inside the house, and reduce the need for your heating or air cooling systems to work. It’s really one of the easiest things we can do while we are away.
Have questions about your home’s heating or cooling system? Give Reliance IAQ a call today at 360.410.9159 today for all your Bellingham, Lynden and Whatcom County heating and cooling needs.