Conserve Energy & Save Money at Home While on Vacation
By marcynetwork
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Comments
I’d be careful about completely turning off the AC or heater when you leave. In the summer, particularly in humid regions like the southeast US, air conditioning removes moisture and protects the house from mold and other problems. I’d say it’s appropriate to boost the temperature into the 80s, but don’t turn it off completely, especially if you’ll be gone a long time.
Thank you for your input Daniel. I think it’s a very good point. I do think though that for a short vacation, such as a week, it would still be okay to close the air without worrying about mold.
We mustn’t forget to leave our houses with safe conditions. In this case we can do it to save the energy as well.
@Daniel, I think your suggestion holds merit for the summer time, I am not sure however if it would hold merit for the winter time, I personally can’t see anything that would go wrong with a house if the heater is not on while you are away. The only issue I could see is perhaps with the water pipes that may get frozen, that’s the only major thing I would worry about.
Till then,
Jean
Another way to conserve energy is to replace your standard thermostat with a programmable one. Many come with a number of programmable settings. Instead of heating/cooling the house at one temperature all day, you can set different temperatures to suit your lifestyle. Close off vents to unused rooms. Also, take advantage of a free unlimited source of energy, the sun. The winter months can be less budget taxing by opening up the shades to let the sun in to heat your rooms. Close your blinds during the summer months to minimize the load on the air conditioner. Consider turning down the heat on the water heater a few degrees to save on power. Look for those spots where cold air leaks through and seal them up.
I like the tip about the water heater. Since it is often hidden away in the basement or in some closet, it is easy to forget about. As for the tip about the fridge and freezer, I don’t think it is very practical to clear out the fridge and freezer unless it is a particularly long vacation.
These are great energy saving tips. I completely agree about the value of a programmable thermostat.
My favorite thermostat is the honeywell rth70D it’s got great features and is easy to install so there’s no reason not to get one. I have a review of it here so you can find out more: http://greenergreener.com/honeywell-rth7600d-best-programmable-thermostat-review/