With the spring just around the corner, giving your home a decent clean-up job can’t be far behind. Now, let’s say that you’re someone who enjoys going green as much as possible. You might be an owner of a solid solar power system, like the ones that Atlantic Key Energy provides. Furthermore, you might also prefer to ride a bike instead of busing or driving a car, and your diet might consist of nothing but veggies.
Nevertheless, some of the things you do during the day are still going to result in some un-green practices. So, for anyone willing to take a green approach to tidying their home, this article will provide ten energy-saving tricks to use while spring cleaning.
List of Tips and Tricks for Energy Saving
Servicing Your Heating & Air Conditioning Systems on Time
Both air conditioning systems and heaters use filters, and they require regular replacing. If you don’t do it, you risk contaminating the air around you, which can’t be good for your health. With clean filters, both your air conditioner and heater will work without a hitch for months.
Thermostat Adjustment
Did you know that raising just a single degree Celsius on your thermostat within 8+ hours can save you over 2% of your total energy consumption? If you aim to save some money on your energy bills, all you need to do is adjust the thermostat depending on where you intend to be. Are you going away for more than 3 hours? Then turn the temperature up so that the AC doesn’t automatically switch on while you’re away.
Energy-Efficient Lighting
When you compare the modern LED lights to the old, incandescent models, there’s just no competition there — LEDs are far more powerful. They use up to 90% less energy and produce less heat than the old models. In addition, a single LED will last up to 15 times longer than an incandescent bulb. So, while doing your spring cleaning, invest in LEDs, and you’ll see the difference almost immediately.
Window Shades
One effective way of saving money is not using the AC to cool down during hot spring and summer days. Instead, invest in any type of window shade, be it a curtain or a blind. That will provide your home with some much-needed protection from the sun.
Inspecting Openings
Check every single door and window opening as you clean around the house. If there are even the smallest cracks and holes, the cool air will seep through them, and you’ll be wasting a lot of energy. One effective way of sealing these cracks is using duct tape or a weather strip. You can purchase them at a reasonable price at any online retailer or regular hardware store.
Inspecting Ceiling Fans
Believe it or not, a ceiling fan is an excellent method of cooling your room without having to resort to AC. All you need to do is change the direction the fan moves in during the summer. If it moves counter-clockwise, you can push the cool air below using a backdraft.
Cleaning the Washing Machine
If you don’t take care of your washing machine, it will not clean your clothes properly. What’s more, it will break down frequently and waste energy. Therefore, when you’re cleaning your home, make sure to do the following with your washing machine:
- Scrub the seals, dispensers, and gaskets to remove any potential mold or mildew growth
- Soak a few towels in either white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and pack them in the gasket’s cavities (it will loosen any grime, grease, or mold)
- Use the same chemicals in soaked towels to clean the tub rim
- Clean the filter as best as you can.
Frugal Use of the Dishwasher
Dishwashers consume a lot of energy and generate tons of heat. So, in order to reduce wastage, make sure to always wash at night when the temperature is already cool. In addition, wash full loads, so you don’t have to use the dishwasher too often each month.
Inspecting the Refrigerator Coils
Dirty coils on a refrigerator will force the device to work harder to maintain a cool temperature. That will drum up your electrical bill, and the refrigerator is already one of the highest energy consumers in your home, even if it’s brand-new and clean. When cleaning, make sure to check the coils and get rid of any dust. In addition, clean up the seals of your refrigerator’s door so that no cool air escapes it.
Updating Old Tech
It’s great that your 20-year-old vacuum cleaner still works, but most of the old tech tends to waste a lot of energy. Therefore, buying new appliances and replacing old, worn-out ones will help you save on your electric bill. More importantly, you will be a lot safer with new appliances since old ones might break down at any second and cause an electrical issue.
Need More Solar Information, Read These Helpful Solar Related Topics
How to Calculate Home Equity with Solar?
Is There a Backup Power Source on Cloudy Days?
Solar Permitting 101
