Spring is in the air, and for many people, that means one thing – spring cleaning. This year, use your annual sprucing-up of your home to make your space more energy efficient too! With a few simple tasks, you can save tons of power and money at the same time. Here’s a look at six of the easiest and most impactful spring cleaning energy efficiency tips.
Clean and Check Seals on Windows and Doors for Energy Efficiency
A significant amount of your home’s energy goes toward heating or cooling, and leaks around your doors and windows are among the biggest wastes of this treated air. Give a thorough cleaning to the tracks of windows and the spots where doors and windows seal. Over time, dirt, dust, and grime can build up in these spaces, allowing air gaps that reduce your home’s energy efficiency. Meanwhile, cleaning window panes allows more light into interior spaces, reducing the need for daytime electric usage. In addition, spending some extra time cleaning window screens also allows better airflow, keeping your space cool naturally, with no power needed.
Change Air Filters
Those with central heating and cooling systems should replace their filters quarterly, but spring cleaning is a perfect time to take care of this if you’ve neglected this simple but critical task in recent months. Dirty, clogged filters force your HVAC to work harder to draw air through the system, increasing your energy bills. Additionally, fresh filters help keep your air free of pollen, dust, pet hair, or other particles that would otherwise settle around your home – or worse, in your lungs.
Clean and Seal Your Ducts
Another way to sometimes dramatically improve your home’s energy efficiency while cleaning is to have your heating and cooling ducts cleaned and sealed. Clean ducts provide similar benefits to a clean filter, allowing air to flow more easily through the system and to the places you need. At the same time, sealing ducts eliminates leaks that waste air and create uneven heating or cooling.
Unplug Seldom Used Appliances
Many people don’t know that a large number of appliances and other devices continue to draw small amounts of power even when they’re turned off. TVs, computers, and game consoles are among the biggest culprits for this “vampire” power wasting, but printers and some small kitchen appliances like microwaves may also contribute. While taking care of your other cleaning, unplug any you don’t regularly use or don’t plan on using in the weeks or months to come.
Change Out Your Bulbs
One of the easiest and least noticeable ways to cut your energy usage notably is to swap out any remaining incandescent lightbulbs in your home for energy-efficient LEDs. In exchange for a slightly higher price when purchased, LEDs use just a tiny fraction of the energy of traditional bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer. This means you’ll enjoy energy (and money) savings for years from just a few quick seconds of work, a great bargain even among these efficient energy tips.
“Smarten Up” Your Home
The “smart home” technology that’s become more common in recent years also offers the potential for major energy efficiency improvements. While you’re taking care of the other HVAC improvements we’ve noted, go one step further and add a smart thermostat that allows you to program your energy preferences to avoid waste or even let you control your system via your phone or computer. Some can even “learn” from your preferences, tweaking their operation to reflect your habits. We already mentioned replacing lightbulbs, but smart bulbs can also provide energy efficiency benefits. Through systems like Alexa or Google Home, you’re able to program lights to turn on and off at designated times.
Spring Cleaning: Saving Energy and Money at the Same Time
Spring cleaning may be a necessity to keep your home looking its best, but with these easy tips, it’s also something to look forward to. So keep these spring cleaning ideas in mind, and you may be amazed at what your summer energy bills will look like in the months ahead.
