When winter arrives, temperature drops and, unfortunately, your monthly spending goes up. Energy bills have always skyrocketed during the winter months. This is how it’s always been, and it will probably continue to be like this for many years to come. But that doesn’t mean that you’re powerless and that you can’t lower that bill. You can and this article will show you how to do it.
1. Start with an audit
A home energy audit that is. It will help you understand how to improve your home’s energy efficiency. This, in turn, will help lower your bills. Getting a home energy audit is not cheap. But, fortunately, some utility companies offer this service for free. Or you can do it yourself, by calculating your Home Energy Yardstick score on the Energy Star website. All you need to do this is your last 12 months’ energy bills and some information about your home.
2. Add weatherstripping
This will help insulate your windows and doors. As a result, your home will lose less heat during the cold months, and less heat will get in during the warm months. You can probably find a complete weatherstripping kit at your local home improvement store.
3. Also insulate your attic
And don’t forget to insulate your attic. A lot of heat escapes through the roof, so make sure that the insulation covers the floor joists. Just remember that some types of insulation need to be covered with drywall or some other type of fireproof material.
4. Get a thermostat
This device will definitely save you a lot of money. It will prevent energy consumption while you’re not at home. And if you get one that’s programmable, it will make your life a lot easier, for a lot less.
5. Seal your windows
Seal your windows shut with removable caulk. This way you will prevent cold air from getting in and, when outside temperatures increase, you’ll be able to easily remove and open the windows once more.
6. Get an energy-efficient furnace
If your furnace is over ten years old, you need to replace it. At this point, it’s not operating efficiently anymore and it’s just wasting your money. A new, Energy Star certified model may cost you a few dollars, but it will pay for itself over time.
Additionally, don’t forget to replace your furnace filter. It gets clogged over time with dust and dirt, and this makes it less efficient, which means that it will use up a lot more energy than it has to. A furnace filter is cheap and can be easily replaced.
7. Fix your ducts
Some homes use forced air heating systems. This means that the air inside the ome is distributed through large ducts. If the ducts are leaking, then the air is getting out, your home is not energy efficient anymore and you’re just throwing money away. So check them for leaks as often as possible and fix them as soon as possible.
