Spring is in the air. You can see it in the flowers and trees. You can feel it in the gentle rise in temperature. Before you know it, you’ll be cranking up the A/C — and your electric bill. What can you do to stay cool and keep some cash in your pocket this summer? Explore these five options now.
Lower Your Energy Costs This Spring With These 5 Tried-and-True Tips
- Inspect and Repair Your Ductwork
The last thing you want to do is pay for comfortably cool air that’s leaking into your attic. If you haven’t had an inspection in a while, now is a great time to ensure all that cool air makes it into your living spaces.
- Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Did you know that the U.S. Department of Energy requires manufacturers to guarantee that the cost of energy-efficient appliances will be recovered within the product’s lifetime? In most cases, the payback time is much shorter than the lifespan. For instance, residential A/C units (using the 2006 standard) payback in three years vs. their expected lifetime of 19 years. Which of your appliances is the oldest energy hog? Replace it now and start reaping the rewards while also helping conserve energy for the good of the planet.
- Use Cold Water to Wash Laundry
Nearly 90% of the energy your washing machine uses for each load is used to heat the water. This simple change to turning off the hot water and using cold water alone can significantly impact your energy use.
- Seal Doors and Windows
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, leaky, non-energy-efficient windows (and doors) can be responsible for increasing your total energy bill by 25 to 30 percent. Aside from replacing the windows, you can also mitigate the loss by:- Checking for air leaks
- Using caulk and weatherstripping
- Adding energy-efficient window coverings
- Adding solar control panels
- Adding exterior shading
- Use a Whole-House Fan to Pull Heat from the House
You can reduce heat in your home by installing an exhaust fan. Using a whole-house fan uses 50-90% less energy than trying to overcome the heat with cool A/C air. With an air exchange happening every three to four minutes, a whole-house fan can cool and ventilate the entire home, day or night.
Electrical Experts Ready to Spring into Action
Are you ready to make some electrical service repairs or improvements this spring? Contact the team at Divine Electric for professional, experienced, customer-focused electrical services and repairs.