March is finally here, and with it comes the promise of better weather and warmer temperatures. For many of us, it also brings spring cleaning, which needn’t be confined to the household objects. A sort out of our attitudes and habits towards energy consumption could help save quite a bit of money this spring. Here are some ideas to consider over the coming weeks and months.
Bring the outside in
Opening the windows not only brings in welcome fresh air, but it can also cool down a stuffy house with needing to resort to fans or air conditioning units too early. A simple action can therefore save a fair bit in ‘cooling’ energy costs. If it is safe enough to do so, leaving a window open at night will help cool a room down beautifully to prevent the cool air leaving the house again in the morning, keep the blinds or curtains shut for a while after you have got up.
Love your thermostat
Keeping the thermostat up high is a comfort in winter, but don’t forget to turn it back down again as the weather starts to improve. Even a few degrees lower can save significant amounts on your energy bills over time. Don’t go too low, though, as the system will have to work harder, the cooler you set it. Turn the hot water down a notch too – you’ll reduce energy costs and prevent the risk of scalding yourself in overly hot water.
Avoid excess heat
Don’t heat your home inadvertently by keeping lights turned on when you are not in the room or using excess hot water. Minimise the use of equipment that heats up, such as computers, irons, curling tongs and dishwashers and take short showers instead of baths. Use a microwave instead of an oven if you can, or start up the BBQ outside when the summer weather starts to arrive.
Fan facts
Keep all fans clean and dust-free to allow them to work to their maximum potential. Switch the air flow so it pushes warm air up and out of the room. Turn fans off when you leave the room, as they cool people, not rooms, thanks to the air flow. This will save even more energy from being wasted. Shut internal doors to keep temperatures more constant inside the house.
More economy drives
Consider washing your clothes in cooler water to save on energy; you can get extremely powerful detergents now that can cope with the lower temperatures. Seal all leaks in the house and check your ventilation outlets to ensure your cooled air is not escaping outside. Switch off appliances when not in use, to stop them giving off heat unnecessarily.