10 Easy Steps to Conserve Energy This Winter

Thursday, December 22, 2011

According to the US Department of Energy, about one third of Americans' energy bills go toward heating the home. By taking steps to reducing the energy devoted to your home you can lower emissions by hundreds to thousands of pounds save some money in the process. Cold winds, winter snows, and less sunlight all present challenges to keeping warm, but there are easy ways to help ease the cost of heating your home.

1. Keep your Thermostat at 68%. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60 -70 degree range you conserve 5% of your energy .

2. Reverse the Spin. Believe it or not if you reverse the spin of your ceiling fan it will actually circulate the warm air  trapped at the ceiling down to the living area.

3. Install a Programmable Thermostat. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to set up cooler temperatures at night and to start heating before you wake up. Your home will be warm during waking hours and you'll shave money off of your heating bill. According to EnergyStar, you can save as much as $180 per year on energy bills, so these things pay for themselves pretty fast.

4. Seal Up Your Windows. A quick inexpensive way to seal up a leaky window is to install clear plastic films over them. They are available at most hardware stores and are easy to install. The plastic creates insulated air pockets while still allowing the sun to shine through.

5. Adjust your hot water heater. Make sure its set to "normal" or 120 degrees. Anything hotter is a waste of energy. You may not even notice the difference and could save up to 10% on your energy bill.

6. Do a little maintenance. Forced - air HVAC systems have a simple filter integrated in the ducts near the furnace. Be sure to change these as often as possible, especially during the winter months. The filters are inexpensive and readily available so buy two at a time and mark your calendars. Its also important to replace your old elements. Hoping the old one will get your though one more season is a short-sighted approach to savings.

7.  Dodge the Draft. Warm air can escape under exterior doors and through walls and windows. Roll up towels and press them under doorways and use weatherstripping and caulk  around windows, doors, chimneys and anywhere two surfaces meet to stop drafts and seal up your home.

8. Take advantage of the sun! Open your curtains during the day and let the sun's energy warm up your house. Pull curtains at night to help stop heat from escaping through the glass.

9. Cover your floors. If you have tile or hardwood floors through down area rugs to help keep things cozy.

10.  Switch Lightbulbs.  Since its darker and the days are shorter in winter its important to switch out bulbs for energy saving Energy Star products in order to reduce your carbon imprint and save money in the process.