By Chris Balzer,

Mom’s Earth Day? Sounds made up, right?  Earth Day was April 22nd and Mother’s Day is May 8th, only 16 days apart so I thought I would combine the two and make Mom’s Earth Day.  At ECES, we treat everyday like Earth Day, we increase comfort and lower CO2 emissions saving the planet one home at a time and perhaps maybe everyday should be Mother’s day.  With these two great holidays so close together, I had to offer suggestions for more than just flowers and home-made cards for mom this spring.

Air condition is vital, spring and summer months are getting warmer and we want mom to be comfortable.  When you visit your mom, help change the air condition filter.  Clogged filters cause strain on the system and can lead to more service calls, costing mom money.  Many HVAC professionals suggest using the less expensive filters to allow more air flow and efficiency.  These filters do need to be changed more often but cost less.  After replacing the air filter, poor distilled vinegar down the condensate drain line to remove mildew and grime from the line, also extending time between service calls.  If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with this process, consult a professional.  Don’t forget to dust HVAC vents and fans, these areas build up dust quickly and could be hurting the circulation of airflow as well.

What better way to show your mother love than with savings on energy costs.  One of the easiest ways to save energy is to change out incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs.  LED bulbs can save as much as 75-80% on lighting cost and they can last 10-20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  Replacing 5 frequently used inefficient incandescent bulbs in your home with energy savings LED bulbs could save you about $75 per year and reduce your CO2 footprint.  It’s also your turn to tell mom to shut off the lights when leaving the room.  Even with LED bulbs, when you are not in the room, switch off the lights and save energy.

What’s tall, green, made of wood and can save energy for your mother? (Hint: a tree)  Doing a little landscaping and planting trees can cut energy costs in the long run by adding shade during the summer months.  Trees also help purify the air we breathe by absorbing pollutants and provide habitats for birds and other wildlife, maintaining a balance with nature.

Buy mom a power strip and plug energy vampire electronics like cell phone charges and other electronics which don’t need to be powered on all the time.  By switching these off at the power strip when not in use or unplugging them can save up to $100 a year.  When cell phone and tablet charges are not in use, they still consume energy, costing money and wasting energy.

If your mom says that her HVAC constantly runs or there are rooms which never get cool, it may be time to schedule an energy inspection by a professional.  These professionals can pinpoint areas which are losing energy, costing money and comfort.  By addressing these areas with energy efficient solutions, you can increase comfort, lower energy bills and lower your CO2 footprint.

Finally, try keeping our Earth and our Moms in our daily activities and actions, they deserve it.

Chris Balzer is Founder and President of Emerald Coast Energy Solutions which is a Smile Provider Company.  We provide smiles to our customers after installing our high energy efficient products, increasing comfort and lowering energy bills.  For more information on how to save this summer and become energy efficient schedule an inspection by calling (850) 588-2870, visit www.trusteces.com or email wecare@trusteces.com and Beat the Heat.

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