Three Ways To Save On Your Energy Bill This Winter

Ahh, the holidays. Twinkling Christmas lights, evenings by the fire, snowflakes falling and turning the world into a winter wonderland. It’s happy and cozy and lots of fun – particularly if it’s your first winter in a new home – and then one day you open your electric bill. You get the shock of your life, and it’s not coming from the electricity…it’s coming from that giant red number that says “amount owed.” Nearly all homeowners have been there, and while there is little you can do to negate the fact that in some areas, you will simply use more electricity in winter than in other seasons, there are things you can do make that number a little less high. This is where your habits and choices can have a major impact on home much electricity you consume.

Three Ways To Save On Your Energy Bill This Winter

  • Turn down the thermostat
  •  Don’t heat unused rooms
  •  Make sure your doors and windows have a good seal

It seems like a no-brainer to turn down your thermostat, but most people don’t consider that they can live fairly comfortably in a much cooler house than they’ve ever experienced before. Many people stay in short sleeves and bare feet while in their home, even in the winter, but if you want to get the most bang for your buck, dress appropriately for winter inside your home. This means breathable layers and warm socks, and when you’re asleep under blankets, you can turn the thermostat down even lower. Most people are comfortable at 70 degrees, but with long sleeves and warm socks on, and perhaps a robe, 65 degrees will not seem chilly. You can even turn it down to 60 while you sleep and if you sleep with adequate blankets, you will be warm and comfortable (and may find you sleep better in a cold room!)

If you have rooms that are unused or rarely used, such as a guest room or parlor, shut the door and turn the vents off to those rooms. If you find you have a need for the room to be occupied (such as guests coming) simply turn the vent back on. This goes for any uninsulated areas as well – perhaps a garage. The more square footage you have, the longer and harder your heating unit has to run, causing you to spend more money.

Many people assume that if they don’t feel a cold draft in their home, they have windows and doors that are well-sealed and winterized. While it’s true that a draft is a dead giveaway that something’s not sealed well, you don’t necessarily need to feel a draft to be losing lots of heat through your windows and doors. Seal windows and doors, and put up heavy drapery on windows that will help with keep the cold windows from cooling down the rest of your house. If you have a lot of windows, that alone could be making your home colder! It’s not always easy to change old habits, but your wallet and the earth will thank you for it!

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