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Energy Efficiency Tips While on Vacation – 5 Tips to Save Money on Your Return
Vacations in the fall are nice. Maybe you’ll go to California, Cancun, or down to the Gulf. As cooler temperatures creep in, it’s nice to take a break and get one more shot of nice, warm weather before fall and winter are in full swing. You may also think you’d like a vacation from utility bills because no one will be using the electricity for a week or two – right?
Actually, wrong. If you just leave your appliances plugged in and don’t apply some energy saving practices, your electricity will only run as high as ever, or maybe worse. However, if you apply these five energy efficiency tips, you may be able to conserve energy while you’re gone and enjoy a lower bill next month.
- Manage Your Heating – Traditional thermostats don’t automatically switch between cooling and heating. This means that if you leave for vacation while it’s still warm and it cools down while you’re gone, your home’s temperature will not be hospitable on your homecoming.To solve this problem, we recommend getting a programmable thermostat, which will allow you to program what temperature you want your home to be at and when. Better yet, update to a Wi-Fi programmable thermostat that allows you to program and monitor the temperature of your home from afar.
Also, as a general rule you should keep your thermostat set to around 50 degrees to keep appliances and pipes from freezing. However, if you have pets staying at home, you should either board them or keep the temperature set two to four degrees higher or lower than you normally would keep it in your home, since pets acclimate to your home’s normal temps. Ask a veterinarian before you leave what would be the best way to care for your pets while gone.
- Mind Your Water Heater – Typically, you would shut off the circuit breaker to the water heater to conserve energy when gone for more than a few days. However, during winter vacations you should leave the water heater on at the lowest possible setting to prevent the water line and tank from freezing. If the temperatures aren’t cold enough to warrant leaving the water heater on, allow the hot water tap to run before power and gas are turned back on when you return to make sure the water tank isn’t empty before you fire it up again.
- Unplug All Appliances – Your appliances and electronics might be turned off, but they’re still draining energy. Before you leave, walk around and unplug every unnecessary appliance or electronic device, including coffee pots, digital clocks, DVD players, and cell phone chargers. By doing this you’ll also eliminate possible fire hazards.
- Use Automatic Lights – If you feel safer leaving lights on while you’re gone, invest in some cheap automatic lights that come with timers. You’ll be able to set the duration for which they’ll be turned on and save your peace of mind and energy bill at the same time. If you don’t want to use automatic lights, have someone who waters your plants your gets your mail turn lights on and off every couple days.
- Draw Blinds and Curtains – You may not consider blinds and curtains, but closing them while you’re gone is one more way to save on electricity use. By lowering blinds and closing curtains, you prevent heat from escaping through the windows.
If you adhere to these simple energy efficient tips before you leave for an extended period of time, you’ll appreciate a lower bill and won’t have to deal with an overly hot or cold home on your return. For more energy saving ideas, check out or website or call us today at 817-238-1616.
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