Looking for some energy saving tips for spring? If you want to save on your electricity bill, then here are some tips that will come in handy while spring cleaning your homestead.
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Energy Saving Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Homestead
Spring Energy Efficiency
Spring is here! It’s the season of allergies, so you’re probably out to do a lot of cleaning. But wouldn’t it be nice if all that cleaning can help you cut back on your power bill too?
With everything going on, I decided that I should start saving energy and cut what I can from my electricity bill this spring. So if you want to do the same, I’m sharing some tips that are easy enough for anyone to try.
Spring Clean Your Way to Energy Savings – Tips from an Electrician
This year, do yourself a favor: Reduce your energy bill while spring cleaning by getting creative, expanding your cleaning to include your electrical-related needs. These 11 tips will help your house be cleaner while saving money.
Do-It-Yourself Tips
Try these quick DIY tips before doing any DIY electrical cleaning. But first, turn off all power for safety reasons.
1. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan Direction
Ceiling fans are a good alternative to minimize the use of your AC unit in the summer and reduce potential energy consumption. However, instead of the usual clockwise rotation of the fans, adjust it to rotate counter-clockwise so it pushes cool air downwards.
Your ceiling fan has a tiny switch for the purpose of redirecting its normal rotation. This way, your ceiling fan disperses cool air so you feel more comfortable in the summer months without having to lower the thermostat of your AC system.
2. Dust, Dust, and More Dusting
Did you know that the more dust that gathers in your home, the less efficient electronics run? If you have vents or computers, dust can cause overheating.
Make sure to dust regularly to avoid computer fires and electrical failures!
According to Electrical Contacts—IEEE Holm Conference, dust contamination on electrical objects can cause current disruption in electrical contacts. Avoid this problem by keeping a tidy home, and purchasing air purifiers to remove contaminants from the air.
Home improvement ideas for your dream home. via .@HomesteadingUSA – https://t.co/roSBPhHpxq#decorator pic.twitter.com/Ud8VLq9gew
— Northland Wholesale (@northlandwhsale) March 22, 2017
3. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Did you know that old light bulbs generate more heat than the newer ones? That is why they use up more energy too.
These days, light-emitting diodes (LED) are more energy-efficient. Start replacing fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs.
Traditional incandescent light bulbs expend a lot of energy to produce light. Imagine an energy difference of up to 90% between LED and incandescent bulbs and how much you will save in energy bills.
4. Clean Your Power Outlets
In order to eliminate dust, grime, and dirt on or around your power outlets, first turn off the power then unscrew the power plate covers. Use an all-purpose cleaner with a Q-tip to remove any excess grease, dust, or dirt.
Remember not to put the Q-tip inside the electrical outlet! When finished, screw the plate on and turn your power on.
This helps eliminate any potential fire hazards while removing dust affecting your power outlets.
5. Adjust Your AC Thermostat
Adjusting the thermostat in your home will help lessen your power bills when using your airconditioning in the warm season. Raise the temperature so your AC doesn’t turn on time and again.
If you plan to be away from the house for a few hours, turn up the temperature by 1°C to save around 2% on your energy bills.
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6. Heating and AC Maintenance
Servicing the air filters of your AC allows it to work efficiently as well as provide better air quality. If it needs to be replaced, don’t hesitate to do so.
Make sure your AC and heating system is free from dirt interference for you to save energy.
7. Check Doors and Window Openings
It’s important to seal cold air indoors in the warmer months to preserve the AC unit’s energy. This is one of the best ways to maintain your home’s energy efficiency.
To do this, check for accumulated dirt on your windows and door tracks that will cause them to not seal properly. The windows may have cracks that allow cool air to escape which will also increase your energy bills.
A great way to resolve this issue is to do weather stripping which makes use of certain materials for the sealing process. The types of weather stripping materials include foam, felt, and vinyl.
8. Use Dishwasher on Cooler Hours of the Day
Your dishwasher is one of the major energy-consuming appliances in the house. Using your dishwasher consumes energy at an average of 54 kWh per month depending on how you operate it.
Furthermore, it heats up your home, which causes your airconditioning to increase energy expenditure.
So what do you do to save energy? Wash your dishes during cooler hours of the day.
9. Inspect the Coils of Your Refrigerator
Aside from the dishwasher appliance, another major energy consumer in your home is your refrigerator. This appliance has an average energy consumption of up to 130 kWh a month — more than double compared to the dishwasher.
Make sure the refrigerator coils are clean to prevent it from having to work harder and maintain the needed temperature to keep your food fresh. Apart from the coils, see to it that the refrigerator seals work properly to keep the coolness from escaping.
10. Upgrade Old Appliances
Consider upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. Newer Energy Star appliances are recommended since your kitchen typically accounts for roughly one-third of your constant home energy usage.
Consider replacing your oldest appliances first with newer models. You don’t need to upgrade the whole kitchen all at once, instead do it gradually as good deals arrive.
New appliances mean new investment, but you save more energy which helps lessen your energy bills in the process.
11. Going the Extra Mile – Hiring an Electrician
This spring, if you seem to have more electrical problems than the ones listed above, you may want to hire an electrician. By doing so, you will get the full electrical cleaning you deserve. An electrician can provide a variety of services including:
- Fixing faulty outlets
- Correcting tripped circuit breakers
- Fixing any wire issues
Bright Ideas For Saving Money
Fact: If every household replaced just one incandescent bulb with an “Energy Star” light bulb, one would save $40 or more over their lifetime.
Fact: The average household uses 50 light bulbs — which would mean each home would save over $2,000 throughout their life. Americans would save close to $700 million each year in energy costs.
Remember: Never try to test electrical outlets or fix faulty wires on your own, as this is a fire hazard and could have a negative, even hazardous effect on your home.
If you are considering going above and beyond these quick fixes, make sure the electrician you hire has the experience and is trained and licensed. Always look for someone local who is licensed in the state and has great online reviews.
Save money on your utility bills with these simple ways in this video from Household Hacker:
Saving energy isn’t just about helping us save electricity or be more energy efficient — it’s also a great way to save money. So, folks, these tasks around the homestead are pretty much doable. Make use of your time properly and start your spring cleaning.
What do you think of these energy-saving tips? Will you give them a try? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
UP NEXT:
- Spring Cleaning Checklist For Homestead New Beginnings
- Planting Tips For Spring: Cold-Hardy, Heat-Seeking, And Seedlings
- How To Save Energy In Winter | 11 Savvy Energy-Saving Tips
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This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
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