The harsh winter is finally behind us and now we can sit back and enjoy the wonders of spring and summer. But just because the seasons are changing that doesn’t mean we should change our energy-efficient habits.

There are still a lot of little things we can do every day to help reduce our energy use our impact on the planet and our monthly bills.

One of the best ways to utilize the new weather is to optimize windows and doors for shade. Use or install curtains on all windows to reduce the amount of light, and therefore heat that enters your home. By cutting out unwanted heat you will drastically reduce the need to cool your place.

Of course this technique should be used wisely, as the less sunlight you allow into your home the less natural light you’ll have and the more you’ll have to rely on lamps and over head lights. The amount of energy used by lamps and lights could cancel out anything saved in air conditioner use, so be careful of that as you plan. Use curtains and window shades to find the right mix of indoor and outdoor light, depending on the time of day.

Another great tip is to watch your appliance use. Appliances suck up a lot of energy not just when in use but also when not being used as well. Any appliance left plugged in still draws energy from the wall even if the appliance is turned off.

This energy that is lost during inactivity is known as vampire energy and can account for up to two percent of your monthly energy bill.

So when using or purchasing appliances make sure they are energy efficient. Energy Star is one of the highest rated standards for energy efficiency in appliances so look for their seal of approval. Then once you are done using the appliance be sure to unplug it.

Speaking of appliances fans are one appliance that get brought out in mass quantities this time of year. It is important to realize when using fans that they are designed to cool the people in the room not the room itself. Fans work to lower your temperature but do nothing to the actual temperature of the room. So when you leave a room remember to turn off any fans (electric or overhead) along with the lights. If it’s plugged in be sure to unplug them as well.

Those who are interested in taking a more involved role in managing their energy use should talk to their landlords or property managers about making renovations to your apartment or house to make it more efficient.

There are a handful of things that could be improved in any home to reduce the energy output or to increase its ability to stay cool during the summer.

Better insulation could be installed to properly trap in the cold air and release the heat.  Also see if a house fan could be installed. Working in place of an air conditioner unit, a house fan sucks in cool air and pushes out the hot air. Check your home for cracks and leaks in windows and doors to see if any of the cold air you are generating is leaking out.

For a cheap investment you could install your own personal solar power panels that could power most of the appliances in your home. The panel, which could be bought for a little as 60 bucks, would hang on an outside window and draw power straight from the sun. That power could be converted into energy to charge appliances and electronics you would typically plug in.

There are lots of ways to save energy during the summer and spring months. The more that we do to conserve energy the less resources we use and the better off the planet will be. And, for you personally, you will see the difference in your energy bills.

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