Winter is here, and the weather outside is starting to get frightful. Here are five ways to remain delightful about your heating and energy costs while keeping warm this holiday season.
Maintain Your Heating System
Having an inspection (or doing one yourself) for your heater can help you avoid wasting money on energy costs. A tune-up can help improve the model’s efficiency and save you on your utilities. Simpler steps, like regularly changing filters can also boost your energy savings and leave your furnace running more efficiently.
Don’t Overuse Your Heat
If you will be out of the house for extended periods, it’s a good idea to give your heater a break for a bit while you’re away (not too long—don’t let your pipes freeze). If you have to run errands for a few hours, it won’t hurt to come back to a slightly colder house, keep your coat on for a few, and let your home heat up a bit when you get back. It will, however, help your energy bill. Every little bit counts! You can do a lot to cut back energy consumption by turning down the thermostat and supplementing your central heating system with a space heater or two. Used sparingly, these little heaters can save you money on utilities, especially if you only want to heat the rooms you use the most or just the room that you’re in.
Take Advantage of Warm Spells
This tip goes hand-in-hand with the first; if the sun can heat your home, there’s no need to run the heat. Drawing the curtains and raising the blinds to let the sun in can create a greenhouse effect of sorts in any room with a sun-facing window. The sun comes in, stays a while, and, in the process, heats up your home.
Plug Leaks
Anywhere that heat can escape from your home is costing you money. Caulking or replacing old, leaky windows is a great place to start. Increased insulation, either in the form of a jacket on your back or fiberglass in your attic, can also keep you warmer without having to turn up the heat and, consequently, your energy usage.
Change Your Lights
While it doesn’t exactly pertain to staying warm, changing out the old lights for holiday decorations for newer, more energy efficient models can drastically cut your energy costs this holiday season. Light up your yard and cut down on costs with more efficient LED models if you can find them.
