Sometimes it’s easy to get so consumed with planning and preparing for a vacation that we forget about the home we’re leaving behind.
Before you leave, your house needs some special attention so it doesn’t continue to over-consume in your absence. When you think about everything that’s drawing energy on a daily basis (and the things that an empty house doesn’t need), it’s time for a checklist.
Here are a few simple (and possibly overlooked) ideas to keep your home green while you vacation:
- Turn off your air conditioning or, in the winter months, turn the heat to 55 degrees.
- Make sure ceiling fans are turned off.
- Unplug nearly everything… computers, TVs, appliances, microwaves, lamps, coffee makers, all of it! Look at every outlet in your house and most things can be unplugged in your absence.
- Install timers on a few lights so your home still appears lived-in but they won’t glow 24 hours a day.
- Dial down the temperature or switch off the breaker on your water heater.
- Clear out as much food as possible in your refrigerator and freezer. Less content means less to cool.
That’s all it takes. A checklist and a little extra time and you can keep it green while you play away!
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I agree with all of those, except the one about emptying the fridge! Did you know that refridgerators and freezers take less energy to run when they are full? Air is easier to cool initially, but once an item in the fridge or freezer is cooled, it will stay that way longer without having to be recooled.
Marisa – thanks for correcting me… I had always remembered differently. I do, however, believe that a less full refrigerator will allow you to decrease the cold setting so that it runs less often. I guess that’s a tricky one!
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