Spring is upon us, which means it’s time for us to start taking out the old and putting in the new. Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to mean getting rid of the clothes you still have from high school or finally cleaning the attic out. It can also mean finding new ways to make your life and the world around you more efficient and productive. We are here to present some energy saving ideas to add to your Spring cleaning to-do list!

1. Enjoy the Spring Weather

With Spring comes a relief from the bitter cold and mild, breezy temperatures. Enjoy the weather while also saving energy and money by adjusting your thermostat accordingly! Programming your thermostat to be 7 to 10 degrees back from its normal setting for 8 hours a day can save you up to 10% on cooling and heating costs. Take another step by properly insulating your home, and save up to another 20%!

2. Get out of Hot Water

With the evening of the weather outside comes less need to heat your home, but it can be hard to remember to make these adjustments while you catch up on your to-do list. Reduce the energy costs of your home by using less hot water, from something as simple as washing your clothes in cold water to reducing the temperature of your water heater.

3.  Take Some Time to Vent

Not literally—though that may be productive too! Make sure your air vents and furnace filters are replaced and properly cleaned. If dirty, these parts of your home may need to put in extra work to do the job of keeping a good comfort level in your home, therefore using more energy and pushing up the cost of your monthly energy bill.

4. A Bright Idea

You can save from a third to up to 80% on energy use by replacing your light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs, such as ENERGY STAR certified LEDs. They last at least 25 times longer and consume 75 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs, making them well worth your effort! Of course, you should always rememberto turn off lights in rooms not in use all year. Or have an automatic lighting control device to do the work for you. Practice makes perfect!

5. Enjoy the Sunlight

Who doesn’t like a sunny home? Try daylighting your house, or bringing more sunlight into your home through windows and other sources. This reduces the need for sources of artificial light, which allows for less energy use without disrupting the heating or cooling of your home. IIn addition, daylighting has been shown to improve grades and attendance in schools, according to the Department of Energy.