Save on Energy Costs in Winter

Cranking the heat up in winter can make it hard to keep energy costs down. Try these quick tips and save on your home energy bills next winter:

• Use the sun. During the daytime, open curtains and blinds on the south side of your home to let in natural heat from sunlight. Retain the warmth by pulling the blinds and curtains before the sun goes down.
• Replace furnace filters. At the beginning of each heating season, replace furnace filters. If the season is particularly cold and the heater runs often, check the filter midway through the winter, too.
• Add insulation. Insulating your attic and crawlspaces can make a significant impact on the heat conservation abilities of your home. Insulating these spaces helps prevent the exchange of indoor and outdoor air.
• Seal windows and doors. Caulk around the edges of windows, and install weatherstripping in the cracks and crevices around doors that are prone to drafts. Remember to check around outlet and switch plates on walls, as well as the seal around pipes, electrical conduits, and vents too.
• Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow you to pre-determine your heater settings so that the heater runs when people are in the home, but reduces temperatures—and the workload of your heating system—when you’re not at home.
• Reduce energy usage elsewhere. Unplug common electronic devices that are not in use, including television sets, computers, microwaves, video game systems, and cell phone chargers. Additionally, make sure your refrigerator is running efficiently by ensuring that the seals on the doors are fitted and there are no leaks. You should also clean your fridge’s condenser coils every six months.

It’s important to remember that conserving energy helps your budget while it helps the planet.