Save the Date! April 30 is Energy Efficiency Day in Dinkytown

Free on April 30? Come to Dinkytown and support energy efficiency!

Energy Smart is hosting an event in Dinkytown on April 30 to celebrate local businesses that have committed to finding ways to save energy. In honor of Energy Efficiency Day, businesses in Dinkytown will be offering discounts and special promotions to shoppers that day, and prizes and contests will be available. The event is being co-organized with a group of University of Minnesota students.

Check out our Facebook event page to see the participating Dinkytown businesses and to keep updated on the promotions being offered and events of the day.

In recent weeks, Energy Smart has conducted site visits with more than 40 Dinkytown businesses to help them identify energy-saving opportunities at their businesses, everything from no-cost and low-cost opportunities to upgrading lights or other equipment. Each business receives a follow-up report that lays out the top energy-saving opportunities along with implementation steps and expected payback.

On April 30, participating businesses will be recognized for their good deed during the event. Energy Smart staff will be in Dinkytown providing tips and information energy-saving that day and handing out prizes to shoppers.

Stay turned in coming days for further details of Energy Efficiency Day in Dinkytown, or contact Energy Smart at (651)292-4652 to learn more.

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Tuning Up Your Air Conditioner for Summer

Summer in Minnesota is just around the corner. Now is a good time to think about making sure your air-conditioning system is as energy-efficient as possible, so you hopefully won’t rack up big cooling bills.

(Of course, the best way to rein in A/C bills is to limit its use altogether, but we’ll save that for another post.)

Before summer, it’s worth doing a little maintenance to ensure your business or home air-conditioning system is working properly. If you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself, there are plenty of professionals to help. But here are some basic steps:

-- Take off any cover. Many people with central air systems have an air-compression unit that resides outside. They put a cover on it over winter to prevent melting snow and other debris from seeping into it. But that cover should come off when the machine is being used.

-- Remove obstructions. Make sure there are no branches, dirt or other debris blocking the vents on the outside equipment. These can reduce the central air system’s efficiency. Trim away any branches blocking it and clear away any debris.

-- Change the filter. Whether it’s a centralized air system or a window air-conditioning unit, it has a filter. That filter should be changed regularly, even monthly, during the season you’re using it.

-- Clean the inside. Use a soft brush or vacuum and carefully clean the inside of the unit. Experts say it’s especially important to clean the evaporator coils of the unit.

-- Test it. Once you’ve cleaned the inside and everything seems ready to go, make sure it’s functioning properly. Wait for the temperature to reach at least 65 or 70 degrees outside and turn it on. Let it run for about 15 minutes. If you feel cold-air coming out, that’s a good sign. You might also use a room thermometer and check the temp near an air vent and compare it to the temp outside to make sure it's measurably cooler inside.

Any other tips you’ve found to making sure your summer cooling system is energy efficient?

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