Take Advantage of Home Energy Savings while on Vacation

One bonus of going on vacation is that you’ll save on home energy use while you’re gone, as well as other utilities such as water and natural gas.

Nobody will be at home using the stove/oven, dishwasher, washer and dryer, TV, electronics, etc. The main savings come about because you won’t need the cooling system to be running full blast while you’re gone.

On the other hand, you don’t want to turn off the AC entirely during hot weather, leaving your home to the mercy of high temperatures and humidity (that can spoil food and damage fixtures).

A hot house isn’t good for any pets you leave at home (and hopefully have someone checking on).

Turn the Thermostat Down Before you Leave

Most homeowners, before leaving on any sort of long trip during the cooling season, will turn the thermostat to a relatively high temperature, 78 or 80 Fahrenheit.

This will keep the house tolerable for pets and house plants, while not requiring the AC to be blowing constantly. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can program whatever settings you like for while you’re gone (or just use the “vacation” setting if it has one).

If you know when you will be arriving home, you can program the thermostat so the temperature returns to your comfort level before you walk in the door. Nobody likes arriving home to an oven.

Also, if your programmable thermostat has WiFi capability, you can adjust your arrival temperature from afar.

Other Ways to Save While on Vacation

• Unplug electronics

A modest amount of energy is used when electronics with constant digital readings and lights are plugged in. This “phantom” power draw adds up over time. Unplug them and save a few bucks while you’re gone. In addition, you won’t risk damage from power surges while you’re away from the house.

• Lower the hot water heater temperature

If your home is equipped with a standard tank water heater, whether electric or gas, the unit will continue keeping its reservoir of water hot while you’re gone.

Adjust the temperature setting as low as possible to prevent standby heat loss. You can also just shut the water heater off while you’re gone. For an electric model, just turn if off at the breaker box.

• Raise the temperature in the refrigerator

Residential refrigerators can be substantial energy draws in a home. If you’re only planning to be gone a few days, conserve energy by raising the temperatures in the fridge and freezer a few degrees.

Without the constant opening and closing of the refrigerator door, the higher temperatures likely won’t cause food spoilage or defrosting.

If you’re planning to be gone for a lengthy period, for example a month or more, consider emptying out the fridge and unplugging it.