Winter is the time of the year when most people use the most energy. It costs a lot of money to run the heater and unlike summer where you can just sweat out the heat with a fan, you unfortunately can not “freeze” out the cold with hand warmers. Chances are your house has plumbing and if you do not run your heat those pipes will freeze and burst. It is unfortunate but true.
So we know you need to run the heater but there are steps you can take to at least ease the stress of the high cost of those heating energy bills.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, “During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.”
When you are home set the thermostat to a temperature that you and your family are comfortable with. Believe it or not maybe wearing a sweatshirt in the house may seem odd but is a good idea. Lower the temp a degree or two and throw on some clothes.
The U.S. Department of Energy also claims, “By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.”
Take the time to weatherize your home. Caulk air gaps around windows and doors where possible and add weather stripping to keep the draft out from underneath exterior doors.
Get to know your furnace, specifically where the filter is. Replace it regularly. A clean filter makes your heater function more efficiently.
Finally, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you, “Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.”
Obviously these aren't life altering processes they just take some time to get use to, but isn't your family worth it?
