Looking for fast, free ways to save on energy around the home this winter? There are many common-sense things you can do everyday in your home to lower energy bills:
Tip #1: Lock your windows
Don’t just close them, but lock them to create an airtight seal that keeps out air leaks and drafts.
Tip #2: Close the doors
Close doors in rooms with minimal use (and the heating vents) like walk-in closets, laundry rooms and guest bedrooms, to reduce heat use in those areas.
Tip #3: Turn off lights
When leaving a room, turn off the lights or add occupancy sensing switches that will turn lights off when no one is around.
Tip #4: Let the sun shine
Get free solar heat by opening the blinds and shades on your windows during the day.
Tip #5: Chill out
Chill out and do your laundry in cold water.
Tip #6: Lower thermostat
Add a sweater and lower the thermostat. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you may be able to save 5 percent on heating costs.
Tip #7: Do dishes efficiently
Run only full loads in your dishwasher.
Tip #8: Clean dryer vent
Remove lint often from your clothes dryer and its outside vent. And, run your dryer in the evening, when the extra heat helps warm your house.
Tip #9: Use power strips
Plug power-draining computers and electronic equipment into a power strip with a switch, so they can all be easily turned off when not in use.
Tip #10: Use blankets!
Snuggle up under more blankets at night and turn your heat down lower to reduce energy costs.
Small things like these can add up to big energy savings in the home. You’ll be surprised to find your energy bills dropping by 20, 30 or more dollars each month when you consistently make the effort.
While free common-sense practices can help you save, keep in mind that a home can only be as energy-efficient as the products in it. Older appliances, windows and lack of insulation can suck the energy out of the home every day causing your heating and cooling costs to soar. Whenever possible, it’s important to invest in energy-efficient products that are marked with the ENERGY STAR® label.
One of the areas of the home subject to the most extreme loss of heating and cooling can be older windows. I’ve been in homes where people put heavy drapes and plastic wrap over the windows to stop air drafts. That’s not the solution. Investing in energy-efficient ENERGY STAR qualified windows makes your home more comfortable and instantly lowers energy bills.
closing off rooms & “closing registers” can upset/change the air flow balance of your furnace & possibly cause a failure of the heat exchanger. This is a costly proposition which could cost you $$$$ to replace it, which will be much more expensive than leaving it alone to heat these spaces. Don’t do this without knowing the airflow measurements (actual testing) of the furnace by a knowlegeable & competent furnace tech. This is much like the suggestion previously on this site to install a higher merv rated filter to clean the air. This can have the same effect if airflow is improperly restricted, your furnace with overheat & you will pay the price.
Storm windows do help a lot, but if your windows are losing heat or have an air leak, a replacement window is probably a good idea. Also, contact your local power or gas utility and see if they have a rebate plan for replacing your windows. It doesn’t pay for them completely, but can significantly reduce the price, sometimes even making them cheaper than storm windows!
You don’t need to buy expensive replacement windows. You can get equivalent efficiency by adding storm windows to your house or repairing/replacing the ones you have. It’s cheaper, giving you faster payback.
Allergists will disagree with the cold water washing. So you save a little on electricity, but spend it on medical care when your allergies get out of control. Also, hot water is the only way to kill bed bugs, lice, bacteria, and other unpleasent critters that may invade your home.
So what is the best temperature to keep your house set at in the day and at night?
All these are fantastic tips for winterizing your home. Last winter I took a majority of these steps, but still found our home was freezing and we could not figure out why. We finally realized that even though we locked our windows, our seal was broken creating a horrible draft. And living in Indiana, our winters can be quite chilly. So this year before the winter months we used a Indiana Window replacement company that was fantastic! Now our home is air-tight and warm.
So word of warning, if you are still feeling a draft this winter, check your window seal so you don’t suffer through a breezing winter like we did!