Your Spring Break plans might have been delayed because of the spread of COVID-19 globally. However, once the curve flattens and social distancing orders relax a little, we know you’ll be itching to take a vacation. That’s why the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a helpful list of ways to save energy while away on Spring Break or any vacation. This way, you’ll maintain energy-efficiency even when you’re not at home.
1. Turn Up Your Thermostat
According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning back your thermostat 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for 8 hours a day. That sounds a little more complicated than it needs to, but it’s easy to put into effect. You can easily do this if you happen to have a programmable thermostat, as these types of thermostats have excellent scheduling features. You can also try out this energy-saving method with a smart thermostat, which not only allows scheduling temperature settings, but also wi-fi connectivity and remote temperature control.
In short, if you simply turn up your thermostat a few degrees while you’re away on vacation, you can save a significant amount on your energy bill.
2. Inspect Leaks
You can’t be energy-efficient if you don’t attempt to conserve water as well. You can save water by looking for and fixing leaks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. This number adds up, so make sure that you fix your house leaks before you go on vacation. The most common locations for leaks are toilets, faucets, dishwashers and showerheads—generally, leaks in these areas are a nuisance but also easily fixable.
3. Unplug Before You Go
Make sure you unplug all your devices and appliances before you leave, as you don’t want “energy vampires” sucking away the savings on your energy bill. “Energy vampires” is an interesting term coined for appliances and devices that continue to drain away energy while they are plugged in, even when they are not being used. Make sure to vanquish these energy vampires before you go on to enjoy your vacation.
4. Seal Up Your Home
Air leaks can lead to significant energy losses and other issues such as your AC short cycling and bad indoor air quality. Luckily, fixing and preventing these air leaks is easy. First, make sure the weatherstripping in your windows and doors is up to date. If the stripping is old and worn out, you might need to replace it. You can find various weatherstripping materials like vinyl, foam and even metal at your nearest home improvement store. Next, make sure there are no air leaks in other, smaller areas such as electrical outlets. This might be surprising, but air leaks can be found behind electrical outlets and might be causing energy loss. To fix this issue, you can try adding foam gaskets or aerosol foam behind these outlets.
