FIVE WAYS TO SPRING INTO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

            Spring marks a perfect time of year to make your home more energy efficient.  Here are five quick tips that will save both energy and money:

1. Seal cracks and gaps around your home. As you put away your storm windows consider adding weather stripping around leaky doors and caulking around window frames.  TogetherWeSave.com, a website sponsored by Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, the branding program of the nation’s not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric co-ops, shows how easy it is to use a caulking gun to seal up leaks around vents, ductwork, and windows. A typical member at Mid-South Synergy can save more than $200 annually by taking this simple step. 

2. Change filters regularly. Change furnace and air conditioner filters monthly. Dirty filters restrict air flow and reduce the overall efficiency of your heating and cooling system by making it work harder on hot summer days.

3. Clean the refrigerator inside and out.  Now’s a good time to not only throw out that leftover fruitcake from the holidays but check the temperature settings on your refrigerator. Ideally, a refrigerator’s temperature should be between 37 and 40 degrees for maximum operating efficiency. When it’s time to replace that old refrigerator, be sure to buy one that’s ENERGY STAR rated. These energy-efficient appliances can save Mid-South Synergy members as much as $100 a year based on calculations from the TogetherWeSave.com.

4. Think sun block.  TogetherWeSave.com points out that by pulling down the shades on your windows this spring and summer, you could save about $35 a year.  Your local hardware store likely carries lots of inexpensive window coverings. Best of all, by blocking the sun, your house will stay cool and comfortable year-round.

5. Enjoy spring breezes.  Use a clothesline during warmer months and let sunlight and breezes dry clothes naturally. This will reduce your electric bill by not running a dryer, and add a genuine clean scent to your family’s laundry.