Tackling Your Energy Bill
Weather proofing your home, I’m sure, seems like a common theme. We’ve talked about setting your thermostats and preparing your home for the summer, but what about the winter? With the price of energy always going up, and more homes and businesses entering the grid, now is the time to think about energy conservation and how we can best tackle the issue. Here are a few ideas to get you started in the right direction, that will not only save you money, but also keep you warm in these coming months.
* Seal your doors and windows with weather stripping to help prevent drafts and the loss of precious heat.
* Be sure to check your furnace, filters and ducts to make sure that they put out top performance.
* Install a programmable thermostat and be sure that it is turned down to at least 65 degrees when you are away.
* Closing your blinds or curtains on cold overcast days or at night will help insulate your home. Opening them back up on sunny days will help heat your home naturally.
* If you have storm doors and windows for your home, don’t leave them lying around your basement collecting dust. Installing them will be a snap and you’ll feel the difference.
* If you’re cold, put on a warm sweater or a pair of sweatpants. The air between the layers of clothes will heat up and stay insulated.
* Throw another blanket on your bed or have some handy near the couch to snuggle up with.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:27 am
Good stuff.
To add, we do a few other things to help like…
1) not leaving our garage door open (like most neighbors in the burbs),
2) we are considering a wood stove insert (vs standard drafty fireplace)(ER thoughts on buring wood - good or bad?)
3) do little things to help recycle heat like leave oven door open after cooking, leaving hot water in tubs & sinks after use.
4) investing in heavier blankets & hot water bottles in the winter to lower the thermostat even more.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Good Advice
One of the biggest mistakes many people make with their furnace filters is to leave them in for too long. Although they are saving money because they don’t have to buy a new filter as often, they also cause the operating costs of their furnace or air conditioner to increase. Any savings are lost because of it. There is much more to be gained by changing your furnace filter on a regular schedule.