We finally got hit hard with the snow this past week! It looks like winter might stick around a little longer this year than some of us were hoping. Even in the middle of the winter, when the ground’s covered in snow and the temperature is well below freezing, you can cut your energy bills without compromising your indoor comfort. Whether you own or rent your home, here are some great tips to help you reduce your monthly energy bills!
Energy Star reported that the average household spends over $2200 per year on energy bills, and HALF of that is due to heating and cooling costs. Save energy, create a more energy efficient home, and stay warm this winter WITHOUT turning up the thermostat.
- Lower Your Thermostat: According to CA.gov, you can shave up to 5 percent off your heating bills for every degree you lower your thermostat within the 60-70 degree range. If you’re looking to save money, set your thermostat at about 68 degrees during the day and even lower at night. You could save 5-20% of your heating costs during the winter.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear warm clothes, grab a blanket, and drink a hot beverage. If you lower the temperature, you might need to make up for it by wearing more layers to keep you warm and comfortable inside your home.
- Address Air Leaks: We’ve written several posts on sealing air leaks and increasing home energy efficiency levels.
- If you have drafty windows, you can find quick fixes and long-term solutions here.
- If you think you may need to look into window replacement options, click here.
- Find great ways to insulate and weatherproof your home here.
- Check out our post, “My Roof is Leaking!" Are Your Sure? to learn about how insufficient insulation can cause water or condensation problems.
- Air leaks can also cause ice dams. Learn about the dangers ice dams pose to your home and how to prevent them here.
- Let In the Sunshine: During the day, when the sun is out, open your blinds and push back your drapes to let in the sun's rays for added warmth. At night, close your drapes and blinds to keep the heat inside and reduce drafts. If you have old, drafty windows, consider window replacement. We have several quality brands with numerous style options to fit any type of home.
- Lower the Hot Water Temperature: A lot of water heaters are preset at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. You very likely don’t need it set that high (Check Energy.gov to see if it’s wise for you to make this change.). Turning down your water heater to 120 degrees will save you money on your energy bills AND slow corrosion and mineral buildup inside your water heater and pipes. According to Energy Star, you could save anywhere from $36-$61 annually in standby heat losses and over $400 in demand losses.
- Reverse Your Ceiling Fan: During the warm months, you want your ceiling fan to operate in the counterclockwise direction to create an updraft, pulling the heat up from the room and making you feel cooler. In the winter, you want the opposite to happen. Make sure your fan is moving in a clockwise direction during the winter to push any heat that has risen to the ceiling back down into the room. This will help keep your home warmer.
If you need to have your roof or insulation inspected this spring or would like to learn more about window replacement options, click on the button below to schedule a free estimate! Hedrick Construction provides quality services to customers in Ames, Huxley, Ankeny, and surrounding areas. Let us know how we can help you!
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