Spring clean and save: tips for finding energy savings in your home this spring

Burlington, VT

For many Vermonters spring cleaning is an annual tradition. This chore can mean more than a tidy home. It can make you some money.

“We all have hidden places in our homes where we’re wasting energy dollars. Many are easy to find during spring cleaning,” says Bridget Ashe, Customer Support Manager at Efficiency Vermont. “Fixes can be simple and the savings really add up. You just have to know where to look.”

To cut your energy costs by getting better performance from your appliances, exhaust fans, and lights, we suggest looking here:

Clothes dryer: clear lint from the exhaust hose and filter.

Fans: dust bathroom ceiling fan covers and fan blades. Clean dust and grease from the kitchen stove hood and exhaust fan.

Fridge: clean dust from under your refrigerator, the vent at the base, and any exposed coils at the back.

Outdoor vents: take a look at any accessible exterior vents, such as for a clothes dryer, heating system, water heater, kitchen fan exhaust, or bath fan exhaust. Clear them of any dust, webs, leaves, and lint.

Electronics: while you’re dusting your TV, computer, and other home electronics, take a look at how they’re plugged in. You can stop overpaying to power these big energy users (many draw electricity even when off) by plugging them into an advanced power strip, which automatically cuts electricity to any idle equipment you choose.

Lights: you can really “clean up” by replacing incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR^® certified LEDs, which use about 80% less energy for lighting.

Bathroom ceiling: have mildew? That’s a sign of insufficient ventilation. If you have a bath fan, use it to remove moisture created by baths and showers. If you need a fan, look for an ENERGY STAR certified model. These fans are quiet and use little electricity. Be sure to vent bath fans to the outdoors, or you’ll risk creating a mold problem elsewhere in the house or attic.

Major appliances: if you’re ready to replace an appliance, check the rebate offers for models that will save you energy dollars for years to come.

Take a whole-house view for biggest savings: spring is a great time to talk to a contractor trained to find and fix causes of high energy bills, drafts, ice dams, and more. A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor can do a whole-house assessment and make recommendations within your budget. Rebates are available.

Shopping for a home? After a mortgage, energy bills are often a homeowner’s biggest monthly expense. Learn how to tell if the homes you’re considering are efficient finds or budget busters by reading our guide to home buying.

Have questions? Contact our Customer Support team with any questions about your energy use and to get help taking control of your energy bills.

About Efficiency Vermont

As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]