April 22 is Earth Day, but there’s no reason we can’t celebrate all summer long. We’re here to deliver safe, reliable, cost-effective energy, and we’re committed to being environmentally friendly and as energy efficient as possible.

Energy efficiency is great for the planet, but it’s good for your bank account too. Almost every step we can take to save energy can also save you money on your utility bills, and that’s cooler than a high efficiency air conditioner. Speaking of which, your AC is a great place to start.

Tune up your AC

After sitting all winter, your AC may need a little love to get it ready for the summer months ahead. At the very least you’ll want to clean up around it, leaving two feet of clear space around the unit. If there’s dust and debris on the coils, you can rinse them with the garden hose, but don’t use high pressure which can damage the coils. 

We recommend bringing in a professional to give the evaporator and condenser coils a thorough cleaning, which is necessary for peak efficiency. They can also check for refrigerant leaks, check the wiring and make any necessary repairs. This inspection can prevent small problems from becoming breakdowns during the summer heat and can help your unit run as efficiently as possible, saving energy and money.

Depending on your plan, Service Guard customers may be eligible for additional savings when you schedule inspections or maintenance in the online portal.

Your AC can use a lot of power, but you can reduce how much you use it by setting the thermostat to around 76 degrees and using fans to help circulate cool air. Even better, you can use a smart thermostat to keep your home cooler while you’re there, without running your AC as much while you’re gone. If you haven’t installed a smart thermostat yet, it’s worth considering. They can help you save up to 8% of your heating and cooling bills each year, and we offer rebates that can help offset the cost of purchase and installation.

We also have rebates available for new air conditioners if yours has seen better days. New units are more efficient and can reduce energy use for cooling by up to 50% when used alongside other steps for keeping your home cool.

Image

How cool is your landscaping?

If you’ve got a green thumb, you can use it to your advantage. Not only can you make your yard look awesome, but you can also reduce energy use. For example, by planting deciduous tree on the west and south sides of your home, you can block sunlight in the summer, reducing surrounding air temperatures by up to 6 degrees and lowering the need for cooling. 

Low-growing plants like bushes and shrubs can also help by reducing heat reflected from sidewalks, driveways and foundations. It can also help to keep your grass heathy — grass and plants absorb less heat, and healthy lawns stay cooler than bare soil. A little bit of gardening and yard work can help you keep your home cool without using any extra power, just take care not to plant anything too close to your home.

You can improve your AC unit’s efficiency by up to 10% just by having it in the shade. Bushes, shrubs or a well-placed tree can do the trick. Just make sure that you leave adequate space between the plants and the unit for airflow and maintenance access.

Safety first

Whether you’re planting trees, shrubs or bushes, make safety a priority. Before you put a shovel in the ground, always call 811. Many utility lines are buried, and calling 811 allows professionals to locate underground lines so you can dig safely. It’s free, easy and required by law before beginning any digging project.

After looking down and considering what’s under the ground, you should also look up. Are there nearby powerline or utility poles? That small tree you plant today can grow tall over time. If you plant it too close to overhead electric lines, it may eventually need to be trimmed.

Image

Environmentally friendly tips for everyone

It can seem daunting to protect our planet, but there are some simple steps we can all take. They may seem small, but when we take them together, we can have a big impact.

Change your filters

One of the simplest, but most often overlooked, steps that anyone can take to improve energy efficiency is to change your HVAC filter. A clean filter helps your air conditioner cool your home more effectively, and most are easy to change. Depending on your model, it’s recommended to change every 1-3 months. 
Monitor your energy use online

Our customers can track their energy use in their online account, helping identify opportunities to save energy and make more efficient choices. Check out your energy use.

Fire up the grill

When you’re running your AC, cooking in your oven adds an additional source of heat inside your home. Why not take advantage of the nice weather and make dinner on the grill? It will help you keep the inside of your home cooler while you make dinner. If you don’t have a grill, a microwave can also heat food without adding as much heat to your home as your oven will. 

Check out rebates 

We offer rebates for everything from smart thermostats to new appliances. If you’re ready to shop around for some replacements or upgrades, explore our rebates and find if one is right for you. 

Earth Day and beyond

Taking steps toward energy efficiency doesn’t have to be intimidating. Making small adjustments now can have a big impact on your energy use and your utility bills. Earth Day is a great time to start, but you can keep the momentum rolling all year long by taking small steps to be kind to our planet.