Entry #2818, September 8, 2013
The long summer days have already come to their close. The fall season has officially started, as it is the beginning of September. As the temperature will gradually go down from now on, you should start thinking about conserving energy in your home. While keeping the inside of your house warm without losing money on your energy costs.
Image via: Mark Pinkerton vi360
Utilize Natural Heat
If you have south-facing windows in your house, keep the curtains open during daytime to take advantage of the heat from the sun. Natural sunlight is a natural solution to keeping a place warm during the cooler days. While keeping the windows open at day, close them at night to reduce the chill from cold weather.
Image via: Gregory Carmichael
Adjusting the Temperature
Save the heating bills by adjusting the temperature of your house. Set the thermostat at a comfortable low level when you are at home and awake. When you are outside of your home or sleeping, you can set the temperature to 10-15 degrees. This little action will save nearly 10 percent on your cooling and heating bills in a year. If you find it irritating to change the temperature again and again, buy a programmable thermostat to make the job easier.
Cut on Fireplace Heat Loss
When you are not burning a fire, keep the fireplace damper closed. Warm air goes right up to the chimney through this damper. A heat-air exchange system and tempered glass doors in the fireplace will also bring the warm air back into the room. C-shaped metal tube-made grates will draw the room’s cold air into the fireplace and flow warm air back into the room.
Image via: Houzz
Seal the Leaks
Check your house to find any air leak around utility cut-through and seal it. Energy loss occurs through leaks made by cut-through for gaps around chimney, incomplete spaces behind closets and cupboards, pipes in wall, and recessed lights in insulated ceilings. Doors and windows may have leaks too. Seal them with chalk or weatherstripping.
Use Wood
Wood can be a very good element to prevent the energy loss of your home during the cold days. Take out the curtains or blinds of the windows and use wooden shutters instead because they help to insulate. Besides saving energy, they also add elegance to any space.
Image via: Decor City
Using wooden shelves is another effective way to save energy. Place these shelves above the heaters and radiators. Hot air from heaters and radiators usually goes straight up to the ceiling instead of spreading through a room. However, shelving above a heater or a radiator will prevent hot air going upward and help circulating it out and into the room. Place the shelving at least one foot above the heater or radiator to avoid a fire.
Numerous ways are there to save energy during the cold weather. Find out what will be convenient for you to do and apply them on your house.
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