JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Spring cleaning is an annual ritual for many homeowners and a time when they deep clean the home and get rid of unnecessary clutter. It is also a great time to clean out or replace items in the home that may be causing your energy bill to be higher than it should be.
“Many of us see springtime as an opportunity to renew and start fresh,” said Marlene Santos, vice president of customer service for FPL. “Customers are encouraged to take this time to clean out energy wasters in their home, too. Doing so will not only save them money, it will make their home more comfortable and easier to maintain.”
A good place to start is your home’s air-conditioning duct system. If you see rapid dust accumulation around vents or throughout the home, it is most likely caused by leaky ducts in your a/c system. Two-thirds of all homes in Florida have leaky ducts, which, in addition to causing dust buildup, can also make an electric bill to go up and can adversely affect the comfort and air quality of the home. FPL customers can request a duct system test by calling FPL at 1-800-DIAL-FPL or going online to www.FPL.com/duct. If leaks are found, FPL will provide a list of qualified repair contractors as well as a rebate to help cover the cost of the repairs.
In addition to duct testing, there are a number of energy-related cleaning and maintenance tips that can help save energy, lower monthly bills and improve the overall indoor air quality:
- Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter every month to trim your cooling costs and help your unit run more efficiently.
- Always avoid pre-rinsing dishes before loading them in the dishwasher (doing so can save up to $70 a year). Because your dishwasher uses the same amount of water and energy to run a full or partial load, wait until you have a full load to use it. To save even more, bypass the auto-dry feature and let dishes air dry.
- Use your oven’s self-cleaning cycle only for major cleaning jobs. When self-cleaning is necessary, start the cycle right after cooking, while the oven is still hot.
- Around 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is from heating the water. Therefore, to save energy and money, FPL recommends that you adjust the water level on your washing machine to match load size, especially when using hot water, and use cold water whenever possible. Always use a cold rinse.
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load. Use the auto sensor function on your dryer, if you have one, to avoid over-drying your clothes.
- When dusting, don't forget to wipe light bulbs for maximum illumination. And, when replacing old, burnt-out bulbs, consider switching to high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights.
FPL also offers customers a free Online Home Energy Survey (OHES), a personalized, in-depth analysis of a home’s energy use. Customers are encouraged to take the survey to uncover energy waste in their home. They will also receive a detailed report and specific ways they can save. FPL understands that the more information customers have, the more in control they will feel when it comes to managing their own energy consumption. Customers can take a survey as well as access a wide-range of valuable information and resources on energy-efficiency by going online to www.FPL.com/OHES.
Florida Power & Light Company is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL), nationally known as a high quality, efficient and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With annual revenues of nearly $16 billion and a growing presence in 26 states, FPL Group is widely recognized as one of the country's premier power companies. Florida Power & Light Company serves 4.4 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, FPL Group's competitive energy subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.FPL.com, www.FPLGroup.com and www.FPLEnergy.com.
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