Spring officially begins March 20, bringing new opportunities to save electricity and money. Here are some ways to get started on spring energy savings.

CLEAR THE AIR
Open windows to let fresh air circulate.

COOK OUTSIDE
Soak in the sunshine by grilling or smoking meals. Or toss a salad and make sandwiches to enjoy outdoors.

SEARCH AND SEAL
Cracks and gaps let conditioned air escape. Caulk and weather strip to seal leaks, especially around windows and doors.

LET THE LIGHT IN
Open blinds and curtains and turn off lights to save electricity.

BE FAN FRIENDLY
Set ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise for cooling. Remember, fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.

ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT
Set your thermostat for the milder months ahead. Consider turning it off entirely during mild weather or scheduling cooling before you arrive home if you have a smart thermostat.

TUNE UP YOUR SYSTEM
Have an HVAC technician inspect your system before the peak cooling season.

UNPLUG AND SAVE
Disconnect devices you don’t use regularly. Plugged-in devices draw power even when not in use. A smart power strip makes it easy to turn off multiple items at once.

MOVE OUTDOORS
Trade lights, TVs, computers and devices for outside activities. 

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