Start Your Spring Cleaning with These Energy Saving Tips

With Groundhog Day behind us and winter (hopefully) coming to a close soon, it's time to start looking forward to warm breezes and spring cleaning. But that also means ditching your energy-consuming winter habits! Say goodbye to your heated blankets and hello to a brighter, cleaner, energy-saving spring.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips on how to reduce energy use this coming season.

Adjust Your Water Heater

When spring rolls around, so does warmer weather. While you may lament not being able to soak in a steamy shower every morning, rising outdoor temperatures are certainly worth knocking a few degrees off of your daily cleaning rituals. Rather than doing this manually every time you hop in the shower, consider lowering your water heater's temperature by a few degrees. If you perform this action as it gets warmer outside, you could be saving your water heater some work and saving yourself a little bit of summer vacation money.

Let the Breeze Work for You

Green energy might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about spring cleaning, but it may be simpler than you think. After all, have you ever performed spring cleaning without airing out your house? When you turn off the heat and open the windows, you're letting the breeze take care of circulating air and maintaining the temperature in your home. It's nature's very own air conditioning!

Update Your Thermostat

Of all the easy ways to save energy, this is probably the most common. A programmable thermostat can actually save up to 10% of annual cooling and heating costs! With that in mind, it's not hard to see why this is one of the most popular ways to rack up energy savings. Instead of lugging your window units in and out every spring and fall, a centralized AC system with a programmable thermostat can make shifting between seasons as easy as pressing a button.

If you're wondering how to reduce energy use this spring, look no further than these three tips. For more information on how to help reduce your energy use at home, contact Starion Energy today.

How to Encourage a Green Lifestyle: Energy Saving Tips For Families

Spring is just around the corner, which means that warm weather will be here before you know it. When temperatures rise, our energy consumption (and our bills) tend to spike. If you want to preserve the planet as a family, there are quite a number of ways to save energy in your home that'll likely make a big difference. Not only will you be reducing harmful emissions when you save energy, but you'll also have lower bills and can enjoy spending quality time together. Here are a few energy saving tips that will make every member of your family want to go green this spring.

Unplug those gadgets and get outside
Your kids may be tempted to stay in front of the TV and play video games, but the beautiful weather provides the perfect opportunity to play outside. Not only are those gadgets a huge energy suck, but they can also lead to a sedentary lifestyle. It's becoming less common to see kids playing outside for hours in the spring and summertime, but you can help break these habits. Take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner or ride your bikes together on the weekends. You'll save energy within your home and expend it outdoors! Both your monthly bills and your family members will be healthier as a result.

Discuss some new house rules
If you're making it a family mission to help the environment, sit down and talk about things everyone can do around the house to assist in your goal. Whether you're conserving energy by keeping windows and doors closed when the air conditioning is on or convincing the kids to limit their time standing in front of an open fridge door, these little changes can have a big impact.

Consider renewable energy
It may not be an option for every family situation, but you may want to think about utilizing renewable energy techniques to power your home. Solar power is becoming more common and more affordable, making it a popular choice for families who want to go green. While it'll be a bigger investment initially, it will allow you to save on energy costs in the long run. And since the sun tends to shine more in the spring and summer, it's the perfect time to teach your kids about the benefits of renewable energy.

Plant a tree (or several!)
Well-placed trees around your property can cool your home and allow you to save money on your energy bills during the warmer months. When you don't have to use as much energy to keep your home comfortable, you're automatically practicing conservation. In fact, shade trees and even home painting can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emissions every year. In addition, a single tree can directly absorb nearly 25 pounds of CO2 from the air on a yearly basis! Simply put, trees can help us in many ways, and they're necessary for the health of the earth.

Want to learn about more ways you can conserve energy at home? Our renewable energy plans can help you reduce your carbon footprint without making sacrificing service and function. For more information about your energy options, contact Starion Energy today.