The wicked cold of winter can wreak havoc on the energy bills of people who live in those colder climates, just as the intense heat of summer does so for people who live in the hottest parts of the country and the world. The rates that the utility companies charge are pretty much fixed in stone, but a wise home owner can lower their energy costs significantly by doing their homework and by taking measures to ensure that those costs are lowered.
Here is a look at some of the simplest ways by which to accomplish this. Understand that the measures that you take that initially appear to cost you a lot of money are going to save you many times what you spent in the long run.
*Proper insulation -
Make sure that your home is properly insulated. Adequate insulation will keep the heat in your home and maintain the temperature of the home more evenly. Don't forget about the heat that can escape through windows and doors.
*Get a programmable thermostat -
A programmable thermostat can be a real money saver. It allows you to set the thermostat for a certain temperature. Unless the temperature in the house drops below the temperature at which you've set the thermostat, the heat won't kick on. Additionally, a programmable thermostat will allow you to set the thermostat at a lower temperature at night.
*Turn the thermostat down -
There is no reason to turn the heat up if the house is not horrifically cold and the pipes aren't in danger of freezing. Setting the thermostat at 65 or 68 degrees as opposed to 72 or 75 degrees will save you substantially. If you can turn the thermostat down to 63 or even 60 degrees at night, that will also save you a lot of money. If you get cold at night, just put an additional blanket on the bed.
*Seal windows and doors -
Make sure that the area around all windows and doors is properly sealed. Poorly sealed windows will allow a lot of cold air to enter and all of the hot air to escape. If you can afford it, double paned windows will save you even more money, as will drop down double pane storm windows.
The storm windows provide an additional layer between the regular window and the outside. Although they can be costly, you will save significantly in the long run. Moreover, if it is possible to install the kind of storm windows that have a pull down storm window and screen built in, you can save yourself from having to purchase separate screens and storm windows, and once they are installed, switching back and forth is very easy to do.
*Put your lights on timers -
If you normally have outside lights that go on automatically, or lights in the house that go on automatically so the place isn't dark when you return from work, put those lights on automatic timers so that they go on and off automatically. This will mean that the lights only have to remain on for a short period of time, and you won't have to remember to turn them off. These timers are very inexpensive to buy.
*Have your furnace or boiler checked -
It's a smart idea to have a service contract with your HVAC company. If you do, they will come out twice a year, (or more if it is necessary,) to clean your heating and air conditioning system, clean and replace the filters and check to make sure that everything is working properly. Regular maintenance will always cost you less in the long run. If your furnace or heating system uses disposable filters, be sure to change them once a month.
*Turn your water heater down -
There is no reason to have a water heater cranked up to the highest setting. Many people don't realize that by turning the thermostat down to about 90 degrees on their water heater, they won't be depriving themselves of any hot water at all. Turning the thermostat down on a water heater simply means that the heating mechanism doesn't have to work all the time to heat the water. It just heats it as needed.
*Use warm bedding -
If it gets really cold where you live, consider purchasing a down comforter (or a washable down equivalent,) and flannel sheets. These will add considerable warmth to your bed and will hold your own body heat in the bed better.
*Use alternative heat sources -
If you have electric heat, you are probably familiar with how uneven and irregular the heating can be. If you turn the heat on, in a matter of minutes, the place feels like a sauna, so you turn it down or off. This kind of turning the heat on and off isn't a cost effective way to heat your home.
If you've got a fireplace or a wood burning stove, consider using those to generate some heat. Even if you've only got a gas fireplace, that can generate some heat. Consider getting a fire box to put in your fireplace so that you don't get the blasts of cold air that will come down through the chimney.
*Switch to CFL -
Switch your lights to CFL or Compact Fluorescent Lights. Although these light bulbs cost more at the onset, they last so much longer than incandescent bulbs that you will save by not having to replace your light bulbs for much longer. CFL bulbs will often last for more than a year.
*Use LED holiday lights -
Incandescent holiday lights use an inordinate amount of energy. LED lights, though more expensive give you just as much illumination, but for a fraction of the cost. Moreover, they last longer because they don't burn as hot as traditional lights do. Put your tree and other holiday lights on timers to control how long the lights stay on. A timer will turn them on at a certain time and off at a certain time.
If you normally use outdoor holiday lights, consider not using them or reducing the amount of holiday lights you use outside by half. You may not realize how much energy those big holiday light displays can generate, even if you put them on a timer.
Avoid leaving lights, computers, televisions and other electrical appliances on when they aren't being used. Some of these appliances should be unplugged when they aren't being used because they will draw energy simply from being plugged in.
There are many ways by which to save on energy costs. Look at the type of appliances you have, whether or not they are energy star rated, how you use lights, your heat and other things that draw energy and that add to your energy costs. Every little thing you can do will yield results, even if not instantly.
Washing your clothing in cold water will also help lower your energy costs. Thing of these things as not only ways to lower your own energy costs, but as ways to do your part to helping the environment. The more energy each of us uses, the more damaging our carbon foot print is to our environment as a whole.