Is your house constantly cold? Are your heating bills rising. We've covered some of the basic stuff (big stuff) here. These lesser items will have a similar large impact though:
Test your home for air leaks.You can save 10 percent or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.On a windy day, hold a lit candle next to windows, doors, electrical outlets, and light fixtures.If the smoke travels horizontally, you have found an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather stripping.Also, tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of your window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.
Properly maintain your heating system.Heating can account for almost half of the average family’s winter energy bill.Make sure your furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year.A heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30 to 40 percent.
Close fireplace dampers when not in use.A chimney is designed specifically for smoke to escape, so until you close it, warm air escapes, too – 24 hours a day!
Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely.In just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.
Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your geographical area.Remember, about one-third of air infiltrates your home through openings in your ceilings, walls, and floors.If your home is not adequately insulated, have additional insulation professionally installed.
Install timers on lights inside your home to avoid coming home to a dark house on winter evenings.Motion detectors on exterior floodlights improve your home security while reducing energy costs.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs to save about 50 percent on your lighting costs.CFLs use only one-fourth the energy and last up to 10 times longer.
Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes to save energy and money.
Insulate heating ducts and keep them in good repair to prevent heat loss.Your system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register, if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces.
Cut your energy bills by up to 30 percent with Energy Star-labeled products. Look for the Energy Starlabel, the government’s symbol for energy efficiency, when replacing your heating and cooling systems – as well as appliances, lighting, windows, office equipment, and home electronics.
A few carefully positioned trees around the house can cut as much as 25 percent off your household’s yearly energy consumption for heating and cooling.Just three strategically placed trees can save an average household between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually.
