Top 10 Energy Savings Tips for your Winter Home

Guest Blogger #276, Entry #803, November 30, 2011

During the winter months when it is cold outside, the very first thing that comes to mind is for us to step inside our home for some heat. However, it consumes a lot of energy and can be very costly to keep our homes heated. Still, there are several ways for us to save energy while keep warm indoors. Here are the top 10 tips for saving energy this winter.

Winter savings maybe easier than you thought

Image via: Via House

1. Keep your doors and windows closed

This is the first step to keep the cold from sneaking into your house. Make sure that all windows and even overhead doors on garages are tightly shut and sealed if possible.

2. Invest in a programmable thermostat

When you have a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature lower at night or every time you leave the house for work or errands. Just make sure that it is installed properly in a sealed room, where it can detect the average temperature in the house. If it is programmed appropriately, it can help save a lot of energy.

Energy savings tips for the winter

Image via: Fresh Home

3. Seal off rooms that you don’t use

There is no need for you to heat rooms that you barely or never used. Seal the heat vents, put down the drapes and shut the door and leave the unused room cold.

4. Insulate the pipes around your water heater

This is necessary if the pipes are not located in a heated room. Doing this is very easy, plus the insulators are very cheap as well. Most new water heaters are already insulated so if you have a new one, then you can skip this step.

5. Wear your sweaters at home

Turning down the thermostat a little bit may make the room a little colder, but it can save energy considerably. You can always wear your sweaters and sweatpants at home, if the room becomes a little too cold for you.

6. Take advantage of sunny days

It’s okay to open your curtains and blinds when the sun is up, as it can give you the extra heat at no cost at all. To keep the heat inside during night time, don’t forget to put the curtains down.

Save energy this winter

7. Wash clothes using cold water

Try not to use hot water when washing your clothes. If you still feel the need to use hot water, use it only to wash your whites. This would save you a lot of energy, as you would give your water heater a break.

8. Do not use a traditional fireplace

Believe it or not, a fireplace sucks the heat to keep the fire, and exhausts it up to the chimney. Unless you sit right in front of the fire to feel the heat, try to limit the use of your fireplace. Keep the damper in the fireplace closed when not in use.

9. Keep your furnace filters clean.

During the winter months, it is necessary for you to make sure that the filters are clean every month, and replace it if there is a need to do so. If there is a massive amount of dirt on the filters, it will force the blowers to work harder, thus consuming more energy.

Keep your family warm this winter, while saving money

Image via: Home Renovation Guide

10. Perform an energy audit

Although you may need to pay for this, the benefits will outweigh the cost. A professional will inspect your home for any inefficiency and find out where your home leaks excess energy. The experts should be able to give you recommendations as to how you can solve the inefficiencies. When you make the necessary changes, you will realize how much energy you can save in the long run.

Kate Dawson is a freelance journalist who is always looking to do her bit for the planet and stay energy efficient, especially during the cold winter months. She blogs for Alert Electrical, who provide a great, eco friendly electric heater and electric panel heater range.

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