Six spring energy-saving tips

Spring is a great time to think about the ways you’re using energy in your home.
Our friends at Kleenheat have provided a useful guide for how to reduce your energy consumption this spring.

Clean your air conditioner

As the weather starts to get warmer, it can be tempting to reach for the air conditioner remote. Before you turn it on, it’s a good idea to clean the filters. This will prevent the air conditioner from having to work hard to blow cold air through blockages and debris. If your air conditioner hasn’t been serviced for a while, consider booking a service in before summer.

Bonus tip: Set a timer for your air conditioner, especially overnight, so you’re not using more energy than you need to.

Cross-ventilate and use a fan

It’s time to let the fresh air and spring breeze in by opening the doors and windows and allowing for some cross ventilation. If you need more air circulation, try skipping the air conditioner and using a fan instead. It’s a fantastic way to blow a little extra breeze and energy savings your way.

Reduce your hot water use

After saying goodbye to those crisp winter days and nights, consider reducing the temperature and length of your showers.

Hot water can account for around a quarter of the average household energy bill, so these changes can have a big impact.

If possible, try to use cold water when doing your laundry as well.

Use the sun to dry laundry

Give your dryer a break and take advantage of the sun. If you don’t have a line to hang your clothes outside, invest in a handy portable drying rack and let the sun do its thing. Direct sunlight can affect the colour of your clothes, so try to find a slightly shady spot where the sun’s heat and spring breeze can dry your clothes in no time.

Choose the right recipe

Winter may have been all about roast dinners, but spring is all about fresh veggies and light meals. On especially hot days, try to avoid using the oven. While the oven may be convenient, it can quickly heat up your home. Aim to use more of your gas stove or barbecue when whipping up your fresh spring meals.

Need some help with recipe ideas? We’ve got you covered with a tonne of spring recipes over at the Kleenheat Kitchen.

Change your bulbs

As the sun starts to stick around longer, you’ll be reaching for the light switch later in the day. While that’s already a natural energy saver, you can be even more efficient by using LED bulbs in your home. LED bulbs use between 4 and 25 watts per hour and consume less energy than incandescent or halogen bulbs when emitting the same amount of light. That’s a big difference that’ll bring some handy energy savings.

Bonus tip: Consider using sensor lights in thoroughfares in your home, so you don’t need to leave lights in the hallway switched on for longer than you need to.

These are simple tips but if you implement them consistently, you’ll see little things add up when it comes to energy savings.