The following tips will save money and energy while staying comfortable during the
cool fall and cold winter months.
(KANSAS CITY, Kan.) — Your heating and cooling system is the biggest energy hog in
your home, accounting for almost half your total energy costs.
The money you spend on utilities rises dramatically in the summer and winter months
when temperature control sees the highest use. Fortunately, there are a few simple
ways you can reduce your heating costs and save money on your utility bill while still
staying toasty in the winter.
1. Let the Sun in During the Day
There’s a reason the family cat likes to nap in sunbeams — the sun is a fantastic source
of free heat. By opening your curtains and blinds during the daytime, you take
advantage of the greenhouse effect and allow the sun to naturally heat your home.
2. But Close the Curtains at Night
Unfortunately, windows can also be a source of heat loss, as they are not as well
insulated as your walls. Close your curtains and blinds when the sun goes down to
prevent cold chills from cooling your home. Consider purchasing insulated curtains to
maximize the energy efficiency of your windows.
3. Eliminate Air Leaks and Drafts
Air sealing your home is simple, effective, and relatively inexpensive. Caulking and
weather-stripping will usually pay for themselves in energy savings within a year. Use
caulk for cracks and openings between stationary objects like door and window
frames. You can use weather-stripping around anything that moves, like the door itself
or window sashes.
External Doors
Doors are a major trouble spot for drafts. If you have a drafty door, check the weather
stripping and seals around the door frame. Replace any damaged or missing weather
stripping and apply new caulk to any broken seals.
Windows
Windows, especially in older homes, are a major source of drafts and heat loss.
Insulate your windows in winter by sealing the frame with clear plastic cling wrap.
Window film is cheap, easy to apply, easy to remove in spring, and can be found at
any home improvement store or online. It will only cost a few bucks to insulate every
window in your home, but the savings on your heating bill will be big.
Attic and Basement
Check your attic and basement thoroughly when searching for air leaks, as these floors
hide the worst air leaks. Use foam or caulk to seal the small cracks. For larger holes,
you may need to install or replace insulation.
Unexpected Heat Leaks
Doors and windows are obvious sources of drafts, but there a few more you may not
think of. Cold air can leak into your house through electrical outlets, light fixtures, AC
units, and gaps in your insulation.
A lit fireplace is a great way to warm up in winter, but it can allow cold air in when
not in use. Keep your damper closed whenever you aren’t using your fireplace. If you
never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
4. Close Doors and Vents in Unused Rooms
Have a guest room you don’t use unless the in-laws are in town? A storage room?
Maybe the kids are away at college. Whatever the reason, if you have a room in your
house that people rarely enter, you’re wasting valuable energy heating it in the
wintertime. Close off all vents in the room and shut all doors. This will prevent you
from paying to heat uninhabited space.
5. Stay Warm with Clothes and Blankets
It’s much more cost effective to warm your body than your house. Keep the
thermostat low and compensate by wearing a nice sweater and warm socks around the
house. Stay toasty at night under a thick blanket, comforter, or duvet.
6. Reset Your Water Heater Thermostat
After heating and cooling systems, water heaters are the second highest source of
energy usage in the home. It takes a lot of energy to heat water, and most people
have the thermostat on their water heater set way too high.
Your water heater heats water to a set temperature, then maintains that temperature
24/7. That means that your water heater just cycles on and off, continually reheating
water to that temperature, whether you use it or not. Just setting the temperature on
your water heater a few degrees cooler can save you a couple dollars on your energy
bills. Unless you’re in the habit of taking showers at skin-scalding temperatures, you
likely won’t even notice the difference.
7. Keep the Air Circulating
Everyone knows that ceiling fans are a great way to stay cool in the summer, but did
you know that they can also help keep you warm in winter?
Normally, ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise, pushing air down and producing a
slight wind chill effect, allowing you to feel cooler. However, most ceiling fans have a
reverse switch that will enable them to turn clockwise, producing an updraft and
moving the warm air that collects near your ceiling down into the rest of the room.
8. Use Space Heaters
If you only need to heat a small area, try using a space heater. Electric space heaters
are a very energy efficient way to stay warm because there is no heat loss through
ducts or combustion. Space heaters are excellent for heating closed-off areas that you
only occupy for shorter periods, like your garage or that bathroom that’s always colder
than every other room in the house for some reason. However, when it comes to
heating your entire house, space heaters are less efficient than a natural gas furnace
or a heat pump.
9. Choose LED Lights for Your Home and Decorations
If you’re planning an elaborate Christmas light show this holiday season, consider using
LED lights. LED lights are the most energy-efficient lighting option currently available.
They use 75% less energy than standard incandescent lights and last 25 times longer.
You’ll have to spend a little more up front, but LEDs are so durable and long-lasting
that your grandchildren could be using the very same string of lights 40 Christmases
from now. They use so little electricity that 25 strings of holiday LEDs can be
connected end-to-end without overloading a standard wall socket.
10. After Using the Oven, Leave the Door Ajar
Heating your home entirely with your oven would be an impractical waste of energy.
However, if you’re using it anyway, there’s no sense in letting that heat go to waste.
After taking dinner out of the oven, leave the door cracked open and allow that extra
heat to escape and warm your kitchen.
11. Lower the Temperature in Your Home
Lowering the temperature in your home by just a couple degrees can result in
significant long-term savings. Turn your thermostat down to the lowest temperature
you find comfortable.
12. Turn the Thermostat Down When You Go to Sleep
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save 10% on your energy bill just
by turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day. Turn down
your thermostat when no one is home and when everyone is asleep. You’ll stay toasty
warm under your thick blankets while saving money.
13. Get a Smart Thermostat
Even better, consider purchasing a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi
enabled device that automatically adjusts temperature settings in your home for peak
energy efficiency. These devices learn your habits and preferences and establish a
schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when you are
asleep or away.
Year-Round Savings on Your Energy Bill
Energy savings isn’t just a wintertime activity. Many of these tips will save you money
all year long. While you wouldn’t want to wear a thick sweater in front of a space
heater in the summer heat, air stripping, insulated curtains, and smart thermostats
work equally well in the summer. These techniques are just as capable of keeping your
home cool in the summer as they are of keeping you warm in winter. Saving energy in
wintertime really is a smart idea for year-round savings.