Easy Ways To Save Home Energy While On A Vacation

Planning to go on a vacation but worrying about how to keep your home’s energy use low? As much as you need time to relax and get some well-earned rest, it’s also best if you think about what’s going on in your house while you’re away.

Before packing up, you have to prepare your home to be energy-efficient. What’s the use of you leaving to clear your mind, and returning home only to find piled-up expensive energy bills?

Ease that stressful thought away by following these easy ways to save home energy while on a vacation.

Unplug Electronic Devices And Appliances

You may often walk through your home one final time before you leave to make sure you don’t forget to unplug anything that won’t need power while you’re away. However, there are certain items that can still use energy just by being plugged in such as chargers and cable boxes. These are referred to as energy vampires.

If you have electronics such as a speaker dock, video game console, and satellite cable box, you could purchase a smart power bar to do the unplugging of these phantom power emitting appliances. But your coffee maker, toaster, radio, DVD player, TV, and desktop computer definitely will not need power while you’re away, so be sure to unplug them before you go.

Lower Your Thermostat Or Set It To “Away” Mode

If you have a manual unit thermostat, be sure to lower it before leaving, to keep your pipes from freezing. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to “away” or “eco” or “vacation mode”. Also, consider setting the fan to “auto” instead of “on” to help reduce energy consumption.

Clean Your Refrigerator Up

If you will be away for more than four weeks, it’s better to empty the fridge and freezer completely and unplug the whole unit. After cleaning it out, leave the doors open and put baking soda in each section of the appliance to help fight bad smells and prevent mould buildup.

But if you will be back after a few days, it’s better to fully stock your refrigerator to keep the unit colder, preserve your food, and thereby reduce energy consumption.

Turn Your Water Heater Off

If you’ll be away for an extended period, consider putting your water heater on vacation mode. If you have an electric heater, you should turn it off at the breaker. This will help you save on standby losses, as water heaters can waste a lot of energy even when not in use. If you use a gas heater, be sure to switch it to the pilot setting to help prevent energy costs that occur through standby losses.

Use Smart Lighting

It’s common to turn lights and fans off when you’re leaving. For increased security, you can install lighting that uses smart technology which has features and controls like scheduling when to turn different lights on and off around the house to better simulate that someone is home.

Preparing your home for vacation mode can reduce your carbon footprint while you’re away. Plus, it helps you save money, prevent energy waste, and ensure your devices and appliances are protected.

If you want to know more tips on how to save energy at home, or if you need us to install your smart lighting, you may call Shaul’s at 778-397-4850, or schedule an appointment.