For many of us, Winter means hot chocolate and time spent with family and friends. Well, we all want to be eco-friendly, but as the days go colder, it’s challenging to realise when it comes to energy saving. Winter demands can generate the expensive energy bills, from keeping the home well-lit in the dark evenings to keeping your home warm, the cold weather often means eloquently increased the energy usage. Applying a few of these energy saving ideas can help to reduce the heating bills for your home.
Let say, Alberta in Canada, it is in the midst of a brutally cold spell, and heating costs tend to be very high during winter. However, there are many energy saving ideas to reduce your energy bills without compromising on your quality of life.
In this post, we have compiled a list of the best energy saving ideas that can help you save money while staying warm during the winter.
Energy Savings Ideas for Home
01. Upgrade the Fireplace
Nothing beats the feeling of warmth when sitting in front of a crackling fire. However, your old fireplace may be costing you a lot.
To cut your energy bill sand to save energy at home, you should consider replacing the old fireplace with a more energy-efficient model. The Modern fireplace requires less energy to keep your room warmer.
You should buy a fireplace with higher energy star rating. Fireplace with higher ratings is about 60 percent more efficient than older models. Apart from savings due to reduced energy bills, you can also qualify for a rebate.
02. Insulate Your Doors & Windows
A lot of homeowners tend to overlook the cost savings due to a properly insulated house. The fact is that nearly 30 percent of the heat inside a home can escape through windows and doors.
Replacing your single glazed windows with double glazed, one can also reduce your energy bills. Another simple trick to save energy at home, is to cover the windows and doors with a transparent plastic film.
You should call a professional insulating company to properly insulate your home. Consider getting a home energy audit to find out areas of the house that require insulation.
03. Maintain Your Heating System
Make sure that you schedule regular service of your heating system. A furnace that is not properly tuned will draw a lot of power to heat up the room. Consider having an experienced technician tune the heating system every month during the frigid winter months.
The filter of the heater needs to be replaced monthly. Also, if you have a pellet or wood burning heater, you need to clean the flue vent on a regular basis. Proper maintenance will ensure efficient heating, due to which the energy bill will reduce.
04. Keep the Thermostat Low
Every degree you reduce the thermostat can reduce the energy bills by up to 1 percent. When you properly insulate your home, you don’t have to crank up the heat to keep the room warmer.
During the night, you should wear warm pajamas and sleep with an extra blanket. This will reduce the need to increase the heat to stay warm during winter.
Consider installing a programmable thermostat for your home. The thermostat can be programmed to turn down the heat during the day and increase the temperature during the night when it’s cold outside. This will also help you reduce the monthly energy bills.
05. Change Energy Plans
A lot of people overlook the money that can be saved by changing their utility company. There are many companies out there who charge different fees according to their energy plans.
Let say in case of City like Alberta(in Canada), the power companies charge different fees. You should compare the fees and select a power provider that offers energy at the best rates. Check out Direct Energy that offers different power rates for residents in Edmonton, Alberta, including short and long term and fixed rate plans. The rates are competitive and lower than most Alberta power companies. Selecting an energy service provider that offers the best rates can also reduce your energy bills.
06. Limit the Use of Exhaust Fans
The area around exhaust fans is one of the key regions inside the house from where the warm air leaks to the outside. To avoid heat loss, you should consider turning off the exhaust fans when not in use. This will ensure that the heat inside the house is not pushed away by the fan.
07. Seal Leaks
You should seal all leaks inside the house. One of the biggest drains on energy is the ducts. Over time, the seals in the ducts wear out. This results in cold air entering the house. Check all the ducts inside the house every year and re-seal if required.
Doors and windows should also be sealed to prevent heat loss and cut energy bills. Check edges of the doors and windows. If you feel cool air coming from the edges, you need to seal the area to avoid heat loss.
Another area that is often overlooked is the basement. Oftentimes, the rim joists and sill plates are not properly insulated. Consider sealing the areas by using acrylic latex or silicone caulk.
Apply a bead of caulk between the edges and the top of the foundation. You should cover the holes with fiberglass insulation and then use expanding foam.
In case there are gaps that are larger than ¼ inches between the foundation and the sill, you should use an expanding spray.
08. Let the Sunshine In
The sunlight is an effective natural heater that can warm up your home. You should open the blinds and windows to let in as much sunshine as possible during the day. This will increase the temperature inside the house by one degree or more, thereby resulting in significant savings on heating bills.
09. Open the Oven Door After Baking
When you have finished baking, you should leave the oven door open. A lot of heat is produced inside the oven. The warm air can heat up the kitchen and nearby rooms. As a result, you can keep your houseand room warmer without cranking up your heater.
10. Cover the Attic
The attic is notorious for pulling away a lot of heat. Drafts of warm air can release through the attic that will make the furnace work extra hard.
To reduce the release of heat through the attic, you should consider covering the area with old blankets, saran wrap, plastic, or pieces of insulation.
All of these energy saving ideas can help to keep your family warm during cold months. The tips mentioned above are not only budget-friendly, but they can also substantially reduce your energy bills. By following the one or more of the above-stated energy saving ideas, even if you are not sure, at least you can try and notice a change in your energy bills.
