Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be difficult. Focus on small changes to save big. Try breaking up energy-saving tasks by season. By the end of the year, expect to have some extra money in your pocket — just in time to spend at Christmastime!
WINTER
- Get into the habit of turning your thermostat down by about 10 degrees before your family turns in for the night or leaves the house in the morning. You can save as much as 1% a year on heating for every degree you lower the heat for eight consecutive hours.
- Pull your refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum or dust its condenser and coils. Clean coils prevent your fridge’s working parts from heating up.
SPRING
- Spring for an annual inspection of your air-conditioning system. It can keep your central A/C running smoothly and efficiently this summer.
- Hire a licensed electrician to inspect your home’s electrical wiring system — not every year, but at least once a decade.
- Wash your windows — inside and out — and open the drapes. The sun can’t warm and brighten your rooms if it can’t find its way through a grimy window pane.
SUMMER
- Trim your hedges. Overgrown shrubs and trees can shade your windows too much and keep the sunlight from warming up your home come winter.
- Grill your dinner outside and serve fresh, cold salads as side dishes. Giving your stovetop and oven a rest also gives your air conditioning system a break on hot days.
- Start running your clothes washer and dryer and your dishwasher after dark. That will keep the heat and humidity out of your air and help your electric cooperative out, too.
AUTUMN
- Get that heating and air conditioning tech back to your house for a heating inspection. A tune-up can save you as much as 5% on your heating bill.
- Seal air leaks around windows, doors and other openings — like the place where cables and wires come into the wall from the outside — with caulk and weather-stripping.
