This is a good time to think about some of the ways to reduce your winter energy bills. The fact that you’ll be paying noticeably more for utilities for the next few months is unavoidable. So, if you’re looking for some new ways to lower your energy bills this winter, please read on:

Find the holes

Before you can fix anything, you need to find out where the proverbial (and literal) holes might be. For cutting down heating costs we first want to make sure it’s not going out of the windows in the first place. If you don’t know how to do a thorough draft search, or just simply don’t have the time for crawling around your doors and windows, you can order an audit with your energy company or from a local contractor. Otherwise, there are plenty of how-to articles and videos to be found online.

 

Adjust the temperature regularly

One of the best ways to tame your winter heating bills is to get a programmable thermostat that will do a great deal of the thinking (and saving) for you. It can be set to turn the heating off when your family is gone for a longer period of time, for a few hours during the day when the house is empty, or overnight — while still giving you the option to come back or wake up to a warm house. It’s a great way of saving energy without even having to think about it.

 

Insulation and duct check

A lot of heat is escaping through the roof if the house isn’t insulated properly. You want to have the insulation checked and installed in case it’s missing. If you want to avoid extra installation costs, you can do it all by yourself by first choosing an insulation material based on the desired performance, and then choose the kind you can actually work with yourself. Just make sure you’ve got all the information you can from your local store, books or the internet, because some insulation materials need special treatment.

 

Heating and furnace maintenance

Schedule a regular checkup for your heating system – it is important to know what all needs to be done to make sure your heating is working as it should. Again, you can call a local contractor for help. Concerning the furnace, it needs a great deal of attention itself. It is recommended to replace the filter every two months, sometimes even more frequently. Keeping the filters fresh can add up to 30-50% on efficiency, and is something everyone should be able to do on their own.

 

Time your washings

This is a tip that is applicable all year long – taking a shower, washing up or turning the washing machine on are all activities that require a lot of electricity, and it can save you a bunch if you leave these activities for outside the prime time (before 7AM or after 7PM). It doesn’t need to become an excruciating rule, especially if your washing machine is right next to your bedroom. But running the appliances overnight every now and then (especially on the weekends) is definitely a way to make your electricity bill a lot thinner.

 

Add another layer

Tuning the heating down a degree or two while putting on an extra layer to keep you warm may seem pretty boring, but it is, in fact, a terrific way to save on heating costs. Even one degree can make a difference. It’s time to take out that cozy Norwegian sweater and save some money.
These few ideas will help you lower your winter energy expenditure. If you have any others to share, please post them in the comments below.

 
If you’d like to talk more about saving on your winter bills, or if I can be of assistance with something else, please reach out to me. I’m always happy to help.