After an unseasonably cold winter, homeowners may be looking for ways to save on their energy bills as we approach warmer months. Spring is a good time for homeowners to easily cut back on their home energy usage by taking advantage of nature’s gifts.

“The warmer weather is the perfect time to spring clean, inspect your home for repairs, and make energy-efficient updates to enhance your home’s energy efficiency,” said Mark Kammerer, Energy Efficiency Expert with Puget Sound Energy.

Not only will lowering your energy at home save you money, it will also help the environment. By using energy wisely, it’s easy to reduce your impact.

Five ways to save evergy at home

1. Switch to LED bulbs. Replace five of your home’s most frequently used lights with an energy-efficient LED to save up to $75 a year in energy costs. Also, dust your lights to get the maximum wattage out of your bulbs.

2. Take the guesswork out of heating your home. Invest in a smart thermostat that learns from you, programs itself and is proven to save money. If you’re not in the market for a new thermostat, simply turn down the heat a notch or two to account for warmer weather. Every degree you set back saves about three percent on your heating bill.

3. Update to ENERGY STAR® appliances. Replace your old fridge, clothes washer or dryer with

ENERGY STAR certified appliances and save nearly $700 over the lifetime of the product. Also, clean under and behind your refrigerator to keep it operating efficiently.

4. Wash clothes in cold water. Heating water consumes energy, so consider washing clothes in cold water and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.

5. Schedule a free home energy assessment. PSE can help you identify energy upgrade opportunities that are uniquely tailored for your home.

For more ways to save, visit pse.com/save