Energy Insights: 6 Vacation Energy-Saving Tips

After a year of very limited travel, many of us are planning a summer getaway! Perhaps it is a simple long weekend away, a week camping in the mountains or a warm beach vacation. But before you hop on the plane or in the car, take these steps to minimize your household’s energy use while you’re away:

 Turn down the water heater.

If you have a tank unit, your water heater will continue heating water while you are away. Adjust the temperature setting as low as possible to reduce standby heat loss.

 Turn down the Air conditioner.

If you have a programmable thermostat, use the “vacation” mode. If you have a manual unit, adjusting your thermostat just a few degrees cooler will have a significant impact. If the forecast is for mild weather, consider turning the system off completely.

 Install light timers. 

Install timers on indoor and outdoor lights and set them to turn the lights on for a few hours each night. This will conserve energy and provide added security by creating the illusion that someone is at home.

 Keep your refrigerator full. 

A full refrigerator is more energy-efficient than one that’s half empty. That’s because a full fridge keeps items cooler and uses less energy. You can fill up the extra space on shelves with jugs or pitchers of water.

 Unplug appliances or turn off smart power strips. 

Any electronic product with a power light should be turned off and unplugged. This includes big appliances, like your TV, and smaller ones like the cable boxes, computer, printer, toaster, and coffee maker. Plug several appliances into a smart power strip and turn off the strip to prevent phantom energy draw.

Draw curtains and lower blinds. 

To block the sun and reduce radiant heat while you’re away close drapes and curtains, and lower blinds to reduce radiant heat and keep your home cooler.