by Shelia West

Created on: November 24, 2009

Burr! Old Man Winter is sending out his annual notification that he soon will be arriving. Those first early morning frosts are just polite warnings that he is about to descend on us in all his fierce glory. And frankly, my dear, he doesn't care if we're ready or not.

A smart person will try his best to be ready for Old Man Winter. You should begin preparing for him pretty soon after those first warning frosts. You really don't want to be out trying to weatherproof your house when it's freezing cold.

So how do you go about winterizing your home to help cut energy costs? Well, there are some standard, no brainer, ways and there are some others that you might not think of. Don't be afraid to ask neighbors, family, friends, and most importantly, your energy providers, for suggestions on how to cut energy costs. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the ideas.

One of those no brainer ways you always hear first is to simply turn the heat down. We've all heard it, but unfortunately, not all of us abide by it. For some reason we want to run around the house in shorts and tank tops. Okay, so maybe it looks sexy, but honestly, look out the window. There's six inches of snow, for goodness sakes. It's not summer. Put on those cute flannel sleep pants and a nice thick sweatshirt. Pull on thick socks to keep those tootsies warm. You can turn that thermostat down a good ten degrees or more. That alone will make an amazing difference in your heating costs.

To help keep you warm with the thermostat turned down, keep throws or blankets on the backs of the couch and chairs. Or invest in a small, and safe electric heater to take with you when you need it in different rooms. At night, keep extra quilts and blankets handy and close to the bed.

Keep doors closed to rooms you don't use. There's no need to heat space that is seldom used. Just check the rooms and make sure there are no cracks allowing cold air in.

Speaking of cracks, check around all doors and windows for any cold air. You would be surprised at the amount of cold air that can slip through that thin sliver between the door and door jamb. Caulk or insulate anywhere you can see light. Feel around electrical receptacles, especially those on outside walls. If you feel any cool air you can purchase foam insulating pieces that fit right inside the cover.

If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, make good use of it. Keep it going as much as possible. Don't forget to reverse your ceiling fans to help circulate the warm air.

Remember, the main goal in reducing energy costs is to do so as effectively as possible, yet still be able to enjoy your home during those chilly winter months. It can be done.

Learn more about this author, Shelia West.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.