This article is about the ways how to save energy during winter. Generally speaking, during the cold season the energy bills are very high for any budget, so all the tips meant to reduce the heating costs are welcomed. Consequently, we will share with you our experience gained from the numerous projects we have carried on over the years.
Most of us imagine that one has to pay a great amount of money in order to improve the thermal efficiency of the house or one could think that getting a warm temperature should at a great cost. On the contrary, the little things play a huge role, both on your comfort and budget. Just remember to apply all this tips as soon as possible to save money on energy bills, as the cold season is knocking at the door.
In order to save money during winter, you need the following:
Materials
- Caulk and weatherstripping
- Mineral wool/fiberglass
- Programmable thermostat
- Polyurethane foam
- Radiator thermostat valve
Tools
- Utility knife
- Calking gun
Tips
- Keep fireplace damper closed if there isn’t a fire on
- It is important to get your heating system serviced by qualified specialists
Easy tips to save energy
Insulate attics and walls air leaks with polyurethane foam, as to save you money on your heating costs and reduce the amount of energy used to warm your house.
Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal the air leaks you might have on your windows. In order to check if you are losing heat through your windows, just take a look attentively around the window frames and see if there are any gaps or if you notice cold air coming in. In addition, you have to replace all the broken glass in your windows.
Install mineral wool insulation between ceiling studs and in attic. At first glance, it might not look much, but we can assure you can feel the difference immediately. The mineral wool or fiberglass are very efficient and make the best insulation materials for your home.
[dropcap]4.[/dropcap] In order save energy during winter, you also have to change furnace filters on a regular basis, monthly wit would be ideally. Nevertheless, remember that there are several types of filters that can be washed, so you don’t have to buy a new one every month.
Install thermostat valves on all radiators in your house, as to control efficiently the temperature in each room. For example, let’s assume that you need to heat only one room, and you don’t want to close the rest of the radiators. The best solution is to install thermostat valves to your radiators; in this way it will be easy to set the temperature you want in any room. In addition, you can reduce or increase the temperature according to day or night.
Check if you have any leaking ducts. Strange as it might seam, any duct leaking means wasted money, so fix the problem using metal tape or a proper sealant.
Use the sun light in your own benefit. There are many people who make one of the biggest mistakes possible when talking about saving energy: they leave the curtains close all day long. Instead, you should open the curtains and remove any material or object, which can restrict the sun light to enter in your room. Nevertheless, you should close them every night, as they prevent losing the warmth through the windows.
Set the temperature as low as to still steel feel comfortable in the room. Do not set the thermostat too low, otherwise you risk getting a flu, and you won’t make any saving at all. Nevertheless, don’t be scared to wear a sweater, as you will better and you will be able to reduce the heating cost up to 5%. Do not forget to reduce the temperature when leaving the house; the best method is to buy a programmable thermostat which is very useful in any house.
You probably didn’t know that water heating accounts for about 20% of your monthly heating bill. Consequently, you could also reduce energy cost by lowering the water temperature to about 120º F/50º C. Another good idea is to install a thermostat shower mixer, they come at a decent price and you can set the water temperature when taking a shower and consequently, you avoid burning your skin due to hot water.
Change your incandescent light bulbs with modern energy saving light bulbs. It might seam useless to you, but if you take into consideration that during winter we tend to use a lot more the artificial light and you add the energy saving for each light bulb, you will get surprised on how much money you will end up saving by just replacing the light bulbs. They are now available in such a variety of forms and sizes, that you won’t find it difficult choosing a proper one for your light fixtures. In addition, save energy by unplugging any device that you are not using.
Thank you for reading our article on how to save energy during winter, we hope you have found ways to save energy in the home, and we recommend you to check out the rest of our articles related to saving money. Please LIKE and SHARE our articles with your friends, by using the social media widgets.
