There are some really nice things that come with the fall and winter season. The leaves turn pretty colors. There are all kinds of nice cold weather fashion. Football season is in full swing. However, if there is one thing that we all tend to frown about, it’s the increase in our energy bills as we all strive to keep our homes and bodies warm.
If you would like your electricity bill to be a bit lower this winter, we have five cheap and easy tips for you to do just that. This way, you can enjoy all that comes with the cold without having to spend an arm and a leg to stay warm in the process.
Don’t turn up your thermostat. Here’s something that just may surprise you. Did you know that you can set your thermostat at around 68 degrees and that’s enough to keep you warm and comfortable? Not only that, but it can cause your energy bills to drop by as much as five percent if you do.
Use natural light in the day and thermal curtains at night. Natural light is a good source of Vitamin D. Not only that, but the sun’s natural rays also help to warm up any room in your home. So, during the day time, open up your blinds or curtains in order to let the natural light shine through. As the sun sets, in order to keep the cold air at bay, opt for using some thermal curtains. They are specifically designed to insulate your house and you can easily find them at stores like Wal-Mart and Target.
Seal your doors and windows. If you happened to have a professional energy auditor come out and inspect your home, one of the first things that they will do is look around your windowsills and doorways for cracks. That’s because it’s one of the main reasons why so many people end up wasting a lot of energy. You can check these areas yourself by turning out the lights in a particular room and looking for signs of cracks or small holes. If you find them, you can fill them in by purchasing some caulking at your local home improvement store. You can also place a towel or some plastic around the base of your doors to keep cold air from seeping in too.
Turn on your ceiling fans. Initially, it might seem a bit odd to hear that you can warm up your house by turning on a ceiling fan, but it actually has been proven to be quite effective. Because heat rises, by setting it to turn counterclockwise, what you are actually doing is pushing the air from the ceiling down to where you and your family are sitting. Indirectly, this can also help to improve the indoor air quality of your home due to how much air is circulating.
Move your furniture around. A really simple thing that a lot of people do not think to do is move their furniture from the front of the windows. Just by doing this, you can keep drafts from giving you a chill without having to spend any money or a lot of time in the process. It’s a cheap way to make a big difference.
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To reap the benefits of natural light, you must consider your climate. Homes in cold climates should have windows facing the sun’s path to maximize heat gain, but homes in hot climates would do better with windows oriented the opposite way. Visit the Energy Star website to determine the most energy efficient windows for your area. In summer, when solar heat is unwanted but the light still comes in handy, use outdoor awnings or shade trees to let the light in without the heat. Situating windows on opposite sides of the room allows for cross-ventilation, which can reduce cooling costs in the summer.