Staying warm in winter …despite rising energy costs
December 21st 2006 04:24
Winter is here in the Northern Hemisphere with the resulting cold temperatures. I am not a cold weather person but also cannot keep the thermostat set in the 70s in our old drafty house because of rising energy costs
Here are some warm tips to help you stay comfy and cozy, and hopefully, save on heating and repair bills.
- Get an energy audit of your home done. Most gas and heating companies provide a free energy audit of your home and will give you a detailed plan outlining the major energy drainers in your house.
- Open your drapes during the day to let sunshine in and close them at night to keep cold air out.
- Insulate any gaps in the doors and windows with caulk or duct tape to prevent warm air leaks. Cover any doors that are not being used with plastic wrap to keep rooms warm.
Insulate your hot water heater and any outside pipes to keep the water warm. Also, insulate any electric outlets that are on the outside walls
- Dress warmly and in layers even inside the house.
- Turn on the humidifier or mist the air with water from a spray bottle. Humidity makes the air temperatures seem warmer so you can set the thermostat a couple of degrees lower without feeling the cold
- Invest in a programmable thermostat to set the heating cooler in the night. You can potentially save 6 – 8% off the heating part of your bill for every degree, and the US DOE says that heating accounts for approximately 44% of the average family’s electric bill.
- Before using your furnace the first time this winter, check furnace filters to make sure they are clean and replace if needed.
- Make sure your fireplace damper is working properly and the chimneys are clean. Dirty chimneys not only make it harder to heat up the house but can also be a fire hazard.
- Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans to they blow upward, toward the ceiling so heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
With these simple tips and without investing in a lot of money to winterize your house, you can stay warm and cut heating costs.
If you do decide to spend some money and make some energy efficient improvements to your house, remember that you may qualify for a tax break under the Energy Policy Act of 2006. Homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to existing homes can qualify for a 10% tax credit, up to $500. Improvements that can qualify include adding insulation, metal roofs coated with heat-reducing pigments, and energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights
Please leave me a comment and let me know if you have any more tips that you’d like to share with me
Stay warm frugally !
Here are some warm tips to help you stay comfy and cozy, and hopefully, save on heating and repair bills.
- Get an energy audit of your home done. Most gas and heating companies provide a free energy audit of your home and will give you a detailed plan outlining the major energy drainers in your house.
- Open your drapes during the day to let sunshine in and close them at night to keep cold air out.
- Insulate any gaps in the doors and windows with caulk or duct tape to prevent warm air leaks. Cover any doors that are not being used with plastic wrap to keep rooms warm.
Insulate your hot water heater and any outside pipes to keep the water warm. Also, insulate any electric outlets that are on the outside walls
- Dress warmly and in layers even inside the house.
- Turn on the humidifier or mist the air with water from a spray bottle. Humidity makes the air temperatures seem warmer so you can set the thermostat a couple of degrees lower without feeling the cold
- Invest in a programmable thermostat to set the heating cooler in the night. You can potentially save 6 – 8% off the heating part of your bill for every degree, and the US DOE says that heating accounts for approximately 44% of the average family’s electric bill.
- Before using your furnace the first time this winter, check furnace filters to make sure they are clean and replace if needed.
- Make sure your fireplace damper is working properly and the chimneys are clean. Dirty chimneys not only make it harder to heat up the house but can also be a fire hazard.
- Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans to they blow upward, toward the ceiling so heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
With these simple tips and without investing in a lot of money to winterize your house, you can stay warm and cut heating costs.
If you do decide to spend some money and make some energy efficient improvements to your house, remember that you may qualify for a tax break under the Energy Policy Act of 2006. Homeowners who make energy-efficient improvements to existing homes can qualify for a 10% tax credit, up to $500. Improvements that can qualify include adding insulation, metal roofs coated with heat-reducing pigments, and energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights
Please leave me a comment and let me know if you have any more tips that you’d like to share with me
Stay warm frugally !
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Comment by Swaralu
These are pretty costly and rich people can invest and save on it.
This guy wants to discontinue drinking fridge water and take bath in tap water for last 10 years!! and save on.
Comment by parentingwisdom
Parenting Wisdom