Back-to-School Energy Savings Tips That Are Guaranteed to Get You an A+

Summer vacation is coming to an end, and while your children may not be ready for school to start, you can look forward to the new energy-saving options that the back-to-school season will bring. Here are a few tips to keep in mind with the house suddenly empty as your kids head off to kindergarten, college, or any grade in between.

Adjust your thermostat

Raising your thermostat a few degrees makes excellent sense with fewer people in the house during the day. A programmable thermostat makes this even easier. Just program it to be a bit warmer during those hours when no one is at home and set it to start cooling about half-hour before everyone comes back home.

Use your refrigerator wisely.

If you’re making lunches for your little ones daily, you can help keep your refrigerator running efficiently by taking out all the needed ingredients in one trip. Constantly opening and closing the fridge doors lets cold air escape and makes the fridge work harder to replace it, so make as few trips as possible.

Unplug your devices

Chances are your kids won’t be using all their electronic gadgets while they’re away at school, and neither will you. So if you have electronics sitting around unused most of the day, make sure they are unplugged and powered off. This will stop them from using “vampire energy“: energy that leaks out from plugs, chargers, and electronics while they are not in use.

Buy EnergyStar® products

Back-to-school season may be when you’re investing in new electronic devices like laptops, printers, and mini-fridges. When shopping for new electronics, look for EnergyStar labels. These products are certified as high-efficiency and low-energy devices, and many use up to 65% less energy than their non-certified counterparts.

Do Laundry at night

Recess, baseball practice, gymnastics, and other back-to-school activities mean more laundry that will need to be done. You can help keep your washer efficient and reduce energy usage by doing your laundry at night.