Are you heading out of town on vacation? Not just a short weekend away from home but a true vacation where you’ll be gone one week, two weeks, or even more?
What if you could save money while you’re away? Wouldn’t that make your vacation even better?
Planning time away is half the fun. You check out guidebooks, create a calendar of things to do, buy tickets, and download maps. You purchase new items to wear or invest in new luggage to ensure it all arrives safely at your final destination.
But outside of turning out the lights on the way out the door, have you ever thought about what you leave behind? Is your house operating the way it always does? Or have you implemented vacation energy-saving tips that will truly help you save money?
While the primary reason to get your house ready before you leave is for safety—an empty home is an easy target—you can also take a few steps to reduce energy usage while you’re away.
Start Inside Your Home
The last thing you want to walk into after a relaxing vacation is a disaster. Especially if “life” starts in again the next morning, and you’ll be off and running to work, school, and non-stop commitments.
Instead of rushing out the door on the way to catch an aeroplane, spend a little time preparing your home for your return.
While you don’t have to scour every room and ensure it’s the cleanest it’s ever been, you also shouldn’t leave it a mess. Dishes in the sink, laundry stacked in the corner, and overflowing rubbish can make the house smell. And it can suck the energy out of you to see (and smell) it the moment you walk through the door.
With everyone away from your home for a few days, there’s no reason to leave your home in the same state as when you’re in and out all day long. Your home has a long list of “energy vampires,” appliances that continue to draw energy even when they aren’t in use.
According to the US Department of Energy, if an appliance is continuously taking in 1 watt of electrical current at all times, that can add an additional $1 to your overall energy costs per year. While that may not seem like a lot, add up how many items you keep plugged in, whether in use or not. The average household can save $100 to $200 a year by merely unplugging.
One of the best vacation energy-saving tips is to simply walk around your home, make subtle changes, and unplug nonessential appliances and electronics. A refrigerator is essential; a coffeepot is not. Look for hairdryers, digital clocks, cell phone chargers, lamps, entertainment units, blenders, and more. Not only will this save energy, but it will also eliminate the potential of having these items destroyed in the event of a power surge.
Pay Attention to Your Heating and Cooling System
If your home is controlled by a programmable thermostat, the temperature automatically changes throughout the day, depending on your schedule. If you’ve upgraded to a more sophisticated thermostat, check to see if it comes with a vacation mode. If not, spend a few minutes keying in new temperature guidelines for while you’re away. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat and would like to upgrade, you can contact a reputable HVAC company, such as Entek, to discuss your options.
Even just a few degrees can help you save a lot. The longer you’ll be away, the more change you should consider making to how warm or cool you’ll keep your house.
If the temperatures are scheduled to be mild, you can consider turning off your HVAC system completely. Even in the summer and winter months, you can adjust the temperature quite a bit without problems. Use the “auto” setting instead of “on” to ensure the HVAC system only operates when it truly needs to turn on.
Unless you have pets, consider raising the thermostat setting to 85 degrees in the summer. This will ensure the air conditioner only turns on during the hottest of days. The winter temperatures are a little trickier. You don’t want your appliances or pipes to freeze. A temperature of 50 degrees will keep your home warm enough to prevent damage yet be low enough to ensure you don’t pay more than necessary for the energy your home uses.
Also, lower the blinds and shades to further insulate your home against temperature changes. This simple act will keep the heat out of your home during the summer and prevent cold air from seeping in during the coldest months of the year. This will also make it harder for potential criminals to peek in and see what’s inside.
Pay Attention to the Lights Too
A dark house is ripe for criminal opportunity. Yet vacation energy-saving tips dictate that using lights while you’re away will cost you money. Which direction is best?
In this case, error on the side of keeping your property safe. However, there are ways to go about it that can save energy too.
Have you changed all of your light fixtures to LED? This change alone can save you money each year. We suggest replacing all of your lights with these new and improved fixtures, including your recessed lighting and ceiling fans.
While it’s not important to keep every light in your home on, select a few to plug into automatic timers to give the impression someone is inside. You should do that in the common areas of your home, like living spaces or the kitchen. You might even have a light in a bedroom go on and off at bedtime. And don’t forget about porch lights. Whether you choose timer functions or motion detectors, spilling a little light on a dark night can keep unwanted things away.
Water Can Be Devastating
Do you still have a tank water heater? Take action in two ways.
First, ensure that the area around it isn’t cold enough to freeze the pipes. Nothing is more devastating than having a water heater break and several inches of water left standing in your home for days or weeks.
Second, turn your water heater down in temperature. Tank water heaters are designed to hold water at a specific temperature. If you aren’t home to use the heated water, why keep it at your desired temperature? Just turn it up again once you return home, and you’ll have warm water in a short time.
End with a Walk Around the Outside of Your Home
A final walk around your home can get rid of potential hazards while you’re away. Disconnect garden hoses, especially if the temperatures may drop and freezing may occur. Unplug any outside gardening tools that you may have unintentionally left in the yard. Ensure the area around your air conditioner is clear and won’t impact the functionality of the system.
You might also have a neighbour keep an eye on your place, just in case something changes. A quick phone call can stop the bad from turning worse. It can be the difference in coming home to a place that’s as you left it, instead of a nightmare you’ll be dealing with for weeks.
Do you have any other vacation energy-saving tips you use before you leave?
Disclosure: This is a Collaborative post.
