The winter weather brings a much-anticipated break from the summer heat, but it also means more energy consumption to keep your family warm. With the HVAC system running all the time and most people at home over the winter months, the electricity bills can be overwhelming. Read on for eight ways you can cut your winter energy bills.
Lower your thermostat
One of the easiest ways to lower your energy bills during winter is setting the thermostat to the lowest, most comfortable temperature. By lowering the thermostat a few degrees cooler, you could save up to 10% of your annual heating and cooling bill. You do not have to turn your thermostat up when it gets colder. The set temperature will heat your home regardless.
Upgrade to a smart thermostat
A smart thermostat provides a convenient way to reduce energy bills without sacrificing your comfort. A smart thermostat allows you to control your HVAC system from anywhere using your smartphone. You could optimize your programmable thermostat to turn down when sleeping or when you are not in the house and warmer just before you get to the house.
Schedule yearly heating system checkup
You should ensure that your heating system is inspected early every winter to ascertain that it is ready to run efficiently and is clean. A yearly inspection helps to find problems early, allowing ample time to fix your heater before winter. This saves you discomfort and inconvenience on a cold winter night.
Regular inspections by quality furnace repair professionals also increase the lifespan of your heating system while lowering the electricity bills since a well-functioning unit does not use a lot of energy to keep your house warm.
Take advantage of natural energy
You do not have to invest in expensive solar panels to heat your home. Instead, you could take advantage of the free heat from the sun by opening curtains and blinds during the day and letting the incredible solar energy into your home. This helps to warm your house and reduce the energy bills. Remember to close the curtains and blinds across all the windows at night to prevent slow heat loss.
Switch to smart lighting
Instead of CFL or incandescent lighting, you should opt for LED bulbs. LED bulbs are some of the most energy-efficient light sources since they save up to 75% energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights. While installing LED bulbs may be more expensive, you are likely to recover the amount and save even more in the long run with reduced energy bills. Ensure that you switch off lights when you are not in a room. Turning off your home’s exterior lights at night could also save up to $40 annually.
Invest in proper insulation
The best way to reduce your winter energy bills is through trapping as much heat as you can inside the house. This involves proper insulation. You should identify the areas in your home where heat often escapes and add insulation. This includes the attic to keep as much heat as possible in the living area and around the plumbing. Adding insulation around the plumbing protects pipes from freezing while preventing heat loss.
You could also insulate the windows and invest in insulated curtains for optimum night-time energy efficiency.
Turn down the temperature of your water heater
Water heaters are among the biggest users of electricity in your home. This is because most homeowners set the temperatures of their water heater thermostat too high, and the systems run 24/7. Turning the water heater temperature down even by a few degrees could contribute to a significant reduction in your winter energy bills. Every ten-degree reduction in your water heater thermostat contributes up to three to five percent off your electricity bill.
Stay warm
The easiest and most inexpensive way to lower your energy bills during winter is by staying warm. Once your thermostat is set to the lowest temperature, keep yourself and your family warm by donning comfy sweaters, socks, and pants. You could also invest in thick blankets to keep your family warm and toasty through the night.
Endnote
Saving energy in winter does not require expensive investments. You could simply wear warm clothes, reduce your thermostat, allow more natural light into your home, insulate the house and invest in LED bulbs and programmable thermostats.
