As summer begins to fade into autumn, we should remain conscious of energy efficiency through any remaining heat waves. With time, however, temperatures will start to fall. Pomona Choice Energy encourages you to conserve energy and save money on your bill with some timely tips and tricks.
“It is important to recognize that as the seasons change, our behavior should change as well,” said Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval. “Autumn brings new opportunities for Pomona’s residents to save on their energy bill and help to build a sustainable future for our community.”
Remember that window shades act as an extra layer of insulation to keep heat in or out. Take advantage of this by opening windows and shades at night to cool your house without using air conditioning. As temperatures drop later in the season, it will eventually be time to bring down your shades at night to keep warm.
Be sure to turn off lights during the day and open your shades to take advantage of natural lighting. This is especially important as we begin to lose daylight and will help reduce stress on the grid during high-demand periods.
When doing laundry, wash your clothes on cold. 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes toward heating water. Washing with cold water can save you money on your energy bill and will still get your clothes just as clean.
Once you finish washing your clothes, take advantage of the pleasant fall weather to air dry your laundry! Not only does this save energy, but it adds a nice, fresh scent to your clothes as they dry.
Finally, during this time when temperatures are more moderate and your HVAC system won’t need to be used quite as much, take the opportunity to make sure it is running at high efficiency. Check the air filters in your HVAC system. Dirty filters restrict airflow, making systems work harder and consume more energy. In addition, check your home for drafts or leaks around doors, windows and vents. Seal any you find with weather stripping or caulk. This will ensure your home environment stays at the temperature you want and you won’t be paying the bill for an HVAC system working overtime.
For more energy tips, visit Pomona Choice Energy’s website.