by B. Harris

Created on: September 04, 2010

Although many people expect to spend a fortune on heating and electricity bills in the winter, this does not have to be the case.  With careful planning and a few small investments, it can be possible - even easy - to reduce electricity consumption during winter.  It is wise to take these energy-saving steps before winter starts in order to reduce your electric bill from the very beginning of the winter.

The first investment that is wise to make when planning to reduce electricity consumption during winter is a programmable thermostat.  Digital thermostats can be set for different temperatures on weekdays and weekends, and the heater can be programmed to heat the house while people are home and turn down the heat when everyone is gone or asleep.  It is not a good idea to turn the heat off entirely because of the energy required to bring the temperature back up.  Instead, it's advisable to keep the temperature at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit when no one is home.

Insulation is another small investment that can pay off big.  Many houses lose heat due to a lack of insulation, and residents end up spending a fortune over the winter trying to stay warm.  Insulation should be added to the crawl space and attic.  In addition, caulk or insulate any drafty areas such as around the windows and doors.  Insulating window film can also provide insulation, and is removable for those who don't care for the look of window film.  Storm windows can also help reduce winter energy consumption.

Heavy curtains can also provide insulation, especially in combination with window film or storm windows.  The heat will be trapped in the house and take longer to escape with curtains or blinds than with no winder covering.  Leave the curtains open during the day to allow the maximum amount of natural light and heat  to enter as possible, then close the curtains or blinds when the sun goes down.

Of course, not unnecessarily consuming electricity is an important part of reducing winter energy bills.  Turning off lights when you are not in a room is only the beginning.  You can close heating vents in rooms that are unoccupied, Plugging electronics into surge protectors can allow you to turn them off all the way, saving more energy than if you simply press the power button.

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