10 Ways to Conserve Energy this Spring

Along with spring HVAC preventative maintenance and service, there are a few other ways to cut your power bill and save some energy. As the days begin to warm up, you can remain cool, calm, and collected knowing that rising temperatures will not be affecting your budget. Listed below are ten ways to help you conserve energy.

Ten Energy Conservation Tips

1. Unplug unused power cords. Did you know that leaving your laptop cord or even your cell phone charger in the socket wastes a sufficient amount of energy? Even though your electronic device may not be receiving a charge, that doesn't necessarily mean that the cord is not exerting a charge. Let your charger rest, unplug it when it is not being used.
2. Adjust your Refrigerator and Freezer Settings. Does the food in the back of your fridge sometimes become too cold or too frozen over time? You may have your refrigerator set to a lower setting. Turning up the heat a notch or two will still preserve your food but will spare your wallet.
3. Unblock ventilation. Have you taken a look around at your vents recently? Are they blocked by the hamper? By the couch? This obstruction prevents air flow and circulation. Moving objects and items helps maintain a comfortable temperature level in your home.
4. Cool the water heater. If you’re not particularly a fan of your faucet’s hottest water setting, there is a solution. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save an average of $2 a month by reducing your hot water heater’s temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees.
5. Turn off the lights. Perhaps the most common way of saving energy calls for less lighting. The usual advice is to turn off all the lights when you leave the house. But are you really using your bathroom light while you are in the living room? Turning off the lights in rooms of the house you aren’t currently using also helps to conserve energy.
6. Choose products that save. When you buy new light bulbs or a new shower head, you have the option of purchasing an energy saving product. Although these products may be the least cost effective in the moment, they provide long term savings.
7. Check your insulation. If your ducts, windows, and doors are not properly insulated, you could be constantly losing heat. Be sure to check that everything is sealed off and reduce your air leakage.
8. Use your dishwasher. Surprisingly, your dishwasher uses less energy than hand washing. So give yourself and your house a break, run the dishwasher.
9. Do not over dry your clothes. Many dryers have an auto sensor function. Line dryer your clothes when possible or set your dryer to this function to prevent clothing over drying and potential shrinkage.
10. Eliminate costs during peak seasons. The myth is true; power companies will charge you more money during peak seasons and peak hours. Requesting an energy saving pamphlet from your power company will help you reduce your costs. These pamphlets are often provided free of charge. They list even more ways to save energy.

Activity listings in Boise, Idaho

Let’s face it, many Boise locals go into a state of hibernation during the winter months. The outside temperatures aren’t the most comfortable and Boise Weekly’s event calendar lists fewer ongoing functions at this time. But with the beginning of April comes the sun, maybe a smile or two, and activities! You no longer have to wait to hear where to go in Boise and how to spend your time. Searching for these activities is now a thing of the past. 

6 Resources for Boise Events

Compiled below are sites that list daily and weekly events around town.  

 http://www.boiseevents.net/

http://www.boise.org/EventSearch.aspx

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/eventsearch

http://events.idahostatesman.com/search?city=Boise&st=event&swhat=&swhen=

http://events.ktvb.com/default.aspx?ct=r&type=21309,144061490

http://www.downtownboise.org/index.cfm/calendar_of_events

some steals and deals

Below are some amazing steals and deals, that may not be around for long, so get them while they are available.

http://www.groupon.com/browse/boise?lat=43.6187102&lng=-116.21460680000001&address=Boise,+ID,+USA&locale=en_US

https://www.livingsocial.com/cities/102-boise

http://local.amazon.com/boise

Spring Coil Cleaning HVAC Maintenance

Spring has officially sprung! For your HVAC equipment, this means coil cleaning. During the spring maintenance, your HVAC Technician will pay extra special attention to both condenser and evaporator coils.
Condenser coils are typically located on the outside of the unit/structure, while the evaporator coils remain inside. However, both types of coils can be used in heating and cooling systems, helping transfer the flow of energy to the unit efficiently and effectively.

 Here, at Total System Services, we know where there are coils, there’s debris. Coils are exposed to the elements and collect everything from grass to dirt to cotton to dust.
Dirty coils block heat flow. They reduce cooling capacity and increase power expenses, spiking up that power bill. If left untreated, they also can become infested with mildew and present a threat to the functionality of the compressor.

Cleaning and washing coils prevent corrosion and aid in effectual air circulation. Your HVAC technician knows that your system is much like a jigsaw puzzle. Technicians are trained to remove each part, clean it with the proper sanitizing solution, and carefully put in back into its place. TSS Technicians come equipped with brushes, chemical coil cleaners, and hand held spray pumps. They utilize their tools and HVAC knowledge in each step of this process.

In addition to cleaning your coils until they are spotless, our Technicians will check all of the coil’s and unit’s electrical connections. They will ensure that the wiring and contactors are working correctly, aiming to identify potential problems.
We are prepped and ready for the upcoming cooling season, are you?

Spring Fitness Challenge

Total System Services, together with One Hour Heating and Air, is implementing a fitness challenge for April, May, and June. During these three months, the goal is to exercise at least ten hours a month. However, the principal objective here is to promote the benefits of maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. In attempt to boost morale and highlight the advantages to this challenge, I have listed some diet and fitness facts below. So read on and happy exercising!

Twenty Fitness Tips for the Spring Fitness Challenge

1. Green Tea helps eliminate bad breath. It also curbs your appetite.
2. Ten minutes of skin to skin contact (think hugging and hand holding) can keep blood pressure from spiking under stress.
3. The more fresh foods you consume, the healthier you will be. Preservatives and chemicals deteriorate the human body.
4. Exercise boosts your immune system.
5. Snacking is important. It helps keep your metabolism up, burning the calories you consume.
6. Skipping breakfast is more likely to cause weight gain than weight loss.
7. The Mayo Clinic suggests adults get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep improves mood and productivity, which both help in bettering your fitness routine.
8. Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise, at least three times a week, greatly reduces your risk of　 health related issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
9. Adding even a little movement to your daily routine can increase your level of fitness.
10. Walking at a brisk pace, burns almost as many calories as jogging.
11. If you sleep less, you crave junk food, if you sleep more, you crave more sleep.
12. Chocolate is high in fiber and helps in digestion.
13. Laughter helps destroy viruses and tumor cells.
14. Apples are more efficient at waking you up in the morning than caffeine.
15. Diet Soda destroys tooth enamel as much as meth and crack cocaine.
16. Staying up all night will cause your body to burn an extra 161 calories, however, the average person burns 720 calories by sleeping (during an 8 hour sleep cycle).
17. Remember to breathe! The only time you should be holding your breath during exercise is if you are swimming.
18. Doctors recommend adults drink 9-13 cups of water a day. Drinking water helps the body flush out harmful toxins and, of course, prevents dehydration.
19. Relax! No matter how much you diet and exercise. The number one factor in illness is stress. Stress causes or complicates 90% of all diseases.
20. Everyone knows exercise increases endorphins making people everywhere happy. But did you know, kissing does as well? Not only does it burn a few calories, but it also releases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.