After the expenses of the holiday season—gifts, meals and travel—money might be a little tight, not leaving much for home energy efficiency upgrades. Does that mean you’re powerless to lower your electric bill?
Not at all. Keep your energy bill cool this winter with these tips and tricks:
Drape delivery. Are you using your curtains to capture heat? Make sure drapes and shades are open to catch free solar heat during the day. Close them at night to keep the heat inside.
Set but don’t forget. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower if you can) and always lower it a few more degrees when you’re away from home.
Got tape? Though not as durable as foam, rubber or vinyl, you can use nonporous tape (first aid cloth tape, for example) to keep cold air from drifting into your home. Tape is good for blocking corners and irregular cracks and can be used at the top and bottom of a window sash, door frames, attic hatches and inoperable windows.
Fan it up. Run ceiling fans on low and in a clockwise rotation to move air up in winter. This keeps warm air circulating without cooling you.
Free vents. Your HVAC system will have to work twice as hard if your air registers and vents are blocked by rugs, furniture or drapes. Keep them clear to allow air to flow freely.
Garage drain. Leave your garage door down. A warmer garage in winter saves energy.
Rug relief. Have a spare rug? Use it to cover bare floors for added insulation.
Cool food. Don’t make your fridge work too hard. Clean the coils yearly, set the temperature to 34–37 degrees and set the freezer to 0–5 degrees. Keep the freezer full; frozen food helps your freezer stay cool. When cooking, keep lids on pots, and let hot food cool off before placing it in the refrigerator.
Hot savings. Heating water accounts for 18% of your home’s energy use. Set your water heater temperature no higher than 120 degrees. For households with only one or two members, 115 works.
Remember: Don’t pay for what you don’t use. When you’re not watching TV or using lights, computers and other electronics, turn them off. Lower your room temperatures a bit and wear a sweater to stay warm, or place an extra blanket on the bed at night.
