Spring has finally sprung!
Warmer weather is coming, and flowers are beginning to bloom. Cold weather energy costs may have taken a bite of your household budget, but spring brings the perfect opportunity to 'spring clean' your energy habits. A new season brings new ways to save electricity and improve the efficiency of your home! Here are just a few of the things to keep in mind this time of year:
Solar
Got solar? Just because we haven’t hit hot weather yet, doesn’t mean you can’t be saving money through your solar panels. Contrary to popular belief, solar panels will still generate plenty of electricity in spring as they generate electricity from light, not heat. So you can be saving just as much, if not more off your bills!
Open windows
It sounds simple, but natural ventilation enables you to avoid the heavy use of air conditoning, relying on air flow to naturally drop the temperature. This is a handy strategy in spring when temperatures are mild. If you’re living somewhere a bit cooler, it makes sense to leave the windows open in the evening and let the breeze cool your home naturally.
Spring’s milder temperatures mean you can rely more on natural ventilation, rather than having to combat weather extremes with your heater/air conditioner.
Cover those windows
Get energy efficent with your windows by utilising curtains, blinds or shades. It's a fab look, plus it stops the sunshine on the warmer days!
Stop leaks
Seal up any air leaks you may have by investing in some caulk! It's pretty cheap, plus sealing any cracking you may have will make a surprising difference to the indoor temp!
Bring in sunlight
Do you really need those extra lights on? Now that the days are getting longer, you can switch off those extra artificial lights and use windows and skylights to brighten your space.
Those extra hours of sunlight can make a big difference to the lighting portion of your bill!
Every degree makes a difference!
By turning the aircon on when the temperature rises to 30 rather than 28, you can save a substantial amount. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall heating/cooling bill will be.
Schedule your heating and cooling
Be smart about how and when you heat your home. Use carbonTRACK to set timers for compatible heating systems to heat your home with the last few hours of solar electricity. This means you come home to a warm house and bring down your evening electricity use!
Using the carbonTRACK app, you can remotely switch your heating & cooling anytime, anywhere.
Know what energy you’re actually using
Use carbonTRACK to get a solid understanding of what is using electricity in your home and when. If you’ve got solar, carbonTRACK can help you run connected devices during the day to make the most of your solar generation.
Some examples of electricity use that could be shifted to the day time include; charging phones and toothbrushes, pool pumps, pond and spa pumps, washing machines, dishwashers and other small appliances.
Knowing what energy you use means you can save money on electricity any time of year!
Now that you’re armed with our tips, you’ll be well on your way to changing your energy habits and getting your bills under control!
