with AVECC Energy Auditor, Wendy Kozeny

Spring is the perfect time to clean your closets and make plans for summer vacations. It's also a great time to update your home to be more energy efficient. AVECC's Energy Auditor, Wendy Kozeny, asks five questions to test your knowledge of energy efficiency. 

What is your thermostat set at? You must always weigh cost with comfort. Ideally, your thermostat should be set at 68 degrees in the winter. In the summer, the thermostat should be set at 78 degrees. Each degree the thermostat is moved closer to the outside temperature could result in a  3% savings on your bill. 

Are you replacing HVAC filters each month? Make sure your HVAC filters are replaced every month. If the unit has to pull air through a dirty filter, it will work harder. The harder it works, the more electricity it uses.

Are you washing your clothes in hot water? When doing laundry, wash clothes in cold water. When washing clothes with hot or warm water, you're also using your water heater, which can cost up to  $0.50 per hour of use. Also, try drying clothes on an old-fashioned clothesline. 

 Do you put a lid on it? When cooking, put a lid on that pot. Placing a cover on a cooking pot will decrease cooking time while saving money. It will take about twice as much time to boil water or cook a meal if you do not use a lid. Burners can cost about $0.25 per hour while in use, which does not seem like much. However, small costs can add up throughout a billing cycle.

How are you drying your dishes? Another easy way to become more energy efficient, turn off the drying feature on your dishwasher. The dishwasher uses about $0.30 per use. Using the drying feature will add another $0.40 per use.  Air drying dishes will save a lot of money, especially if your dishwasher runs daily.

To schedule an energy audit, please visit www.avecc.com. To learn more ways to be energy efficient, tune in to Season 3, Episode 8 of "The Next Greatest Thing" podcast, available on iTunes and Spotify.