Spring will soon be here and for many people that means\ngiving your home a good cleaning. While spring cleaning can be daunting, did\nyou realize this annual tradition can actually help you save money? It\u2019s true! There\u2019s\nprobably a good chance you haven\u2019t noticed the small ways you\u2019ve been wasting\nenergy around your home. Doing a bit of spring cleaning makes you aware of\nthose sneaky energy vampires so you can deal with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By making your home as clean and comfortable as possible,\nyou\u2019ll also make it energy-efficient, saving you a bit of money while helping\nthe environment. Here are some spring-cleaning tips that will help improve your\nenergy efficiency at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Routinely replacing your air filters will not only improve indoor\nair quality, it\u2019ll also lower your heating and cooling system\u2019s energy\nconsumption by up to 15%. If you can\u2019t remember the last time you changed them,\ntake time to change them now. How often you should change the air filter\ndepends on a lot of variables like how large your home is, the location, if someone\nin your family has allergies or asthma, or if you have pets. A good rule of\nthumb is to change the air filters every 90 days. If you have a pet, consider\nchanging them every 60 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you\u2019re checking the filters on your HVAC system, check\nyour air ducts and vents for dust and grime and wipe them down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spring is a good time to check the ceiling fans to make sure\nthey are operating in the right direction. Ceiling fans should turn clockwise\nduring the winter to push down warm air but during the spring and summer, they should\nbe turning counterclockwise to help cool the room. Before changing the fan\u2019s\ndirection, be sure to wipe down the blades to keep any dust from getting back\ninto the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you\u2019re dusting your shelves and countertops, be sure\nto dust your electronics, office equipment, light bulbs, dryer vents, and even\nrefrigerator coils. Dust can prevent your items from running efficiently and\nproperly, increasing your total energy costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your fridge consumes up to 14% of your home\u2019s electricity so\nincreasing the fridge\u2019s energy efficiency can make a dent in your bill. Start\nby cleaning out the fridge and removing old food and drinks. Shoot to keep your\nfridge about two-thirds cool to promote circulation and efficiency. Follow up\nby cleaning the seals around the door to keep the cold air inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spring is about renewal and new beginnings and spring cleaning is a great way to refresh your entire home to get ready for the new year. By adding these helpful tips to your spring cleaning plans, not only will you have your home in tip-top shape, but you\u2019ll also reap the rewards of energy savings!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spring will soon be here and for many people that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1625,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[298,112,118,120,222],"class_list":["post-1624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-at-home","tag-energy-efficiency","tag-home-tips","tag-homeowner-tips","tag-homeownership","tag-spring-cleaning"],"yoast_head":"\n