The winter season brings cooler temperatures, holiday guests, and as a result: higher energy bills. We want to stay as warm as possible when those frigid temps hit but it comes at a price. If you’re tidying up your home for holiday company or planning to do a winter remodel, you might as well make some simple changes to your house to save energy while you’re at it.
Home heating alone accounts for nearly half of your energy bill. Luckily, these easy home winterization tips from The Zebra can protect your home from heat loss, save energy, and reduce your energy bill.
Switch to LED lights
Whether you’re decorating for the holidays outside or just swapping out bulbs in your outdoor lights, go with an eco-friendly option to reduce your energy use.
Close up your chimney
When you aren’t using your fireplace to keep you warm, make sure the damper and flue are closed to reduce heat loss.
Seal up cracks in doors and windows
Avoid wasting 25% of the heat that escapes through small cracks by using towels, weatherproof strips, or caulking around doors and windows.
Turn down the water heater
Did you know setting your water heater to 120–140 degrees F can reduce your energy costs? The difference in temperature may not be noticeable, but your energy savings will!
Install a programmable thermostat
While smart thermostats are the hottest things in-home tech right now, even installing a simple programmable thermostat can help you save up to 10% on your energy bill. This helps you moderate the temp while you’re at home and save while you’re away.
Rotate your ceiling fans
This easy fix is as simple as clicking the cord on your fan. Make sure the fans in each room are turning clockwise to pull warm air down into the room. When it gets warmer in the spring, rotate them counterclockwise.
Let in the sun
Open your curtains and blinds during the day to allow the sunlight to naturally heat up your rooms. As the sun goes down, close them up to hold the heat in. Consider energy-efficient window coverings to save even more.
Insulate with cozy rugs
Help keep your feet warm by bringing out some rugs. These should help soak up the heat in your home and insulate so you rely less on your furnace.
The best time to prepare your home for winter is before the cooler weather gets here. However, it’s never too late to go green and save some green. Check even more home maintenance tasks for winter this year by using the free checklist on home winterization.
Author Bio: Amanda is a content creator for The Zebra who shares helpful tips on keeping a safe and happy home.
Courtesy of https://www.thezebra.com :
