Spring is a good time for a fresh start – that’s why spring cleaning is a popular activity. If your energy bills are too high, spring is also a good time to find new ways to start saving money. Now that you’re ready to turn your heater off, why not take the time to figure out how you can keep your cooling costs down in the coming months? You may be able to delay turning your air conditioner on until late spring or summertime, or at least find ways to reduce the amount of money that you spend on cooling. Take a look at some things that you can do to improve your energy efficiency this spring.

Install Ceiling Fans

A simple ceiling fan can make a big difference to your energy bill.

If you don’t already have ceiling fans, you should consider having them installed, and if you do already have them, it’s time to start using them. Even if you have to invest some money in buying and installing the fans, you’ll save money by using the fans instead of the air conditioner whenever possible. That’s because the fans use less energy than your air conditioner. They cool the room by pushing cool air down from the ceiling and toward the floor. For the maximum energy savings, be sure to turn the fan off when you leave a room.

Get A Programmable Thermostat

Your old reliable thermostat may be preventing you from saving energy.

A programmable thermostat is a simple and affordable addition that has the potential to help you save a lot of energy. The key to making your programmable thermostat work for you is to use it correctly. Set it to keep the temperature higher when no one is at home or at night, so that the air conditioner is only working hard to cool your home when you most need it – when you’re home and awake.

You can save as much as $180 a year on your energy costs just by installing a programmable thermostat and using it to cool your home efficiently. That’s a significant savings for making such a minor change.

Have a Home Energy Audit

Although it’s useful to implement general energy efficiency tips that work for most homes, it’s even more useful to look at the specific structure and energy needs of your home to find ways that you can become more energy efficient. Different homes have different strong and weak points when it comes to energy usage, and of course, every family has their own energy needs. For example, while setting the thermostat higher during the weekday may work when everyone in the house has school or work during the day, this may not be as helpful in a house where several people work from home, take classes online, or are retired, and are therefore home most of the day.

The purpose of an energy audit is to identify the parts of your home that need upgrading in order to increase energy efficiency – for instance, you can find out if you need new insulation or less drafty windows – and to examine your specific energy needs. After the audit, you’ll have a plan that will help you save energy in the way that’s best suited for your home and your needs.

If you’re interested in finding out how Moonworks can help you increase your energy efficiency, contact us at 1-800-975-6666 or visit our website.