Autumn is the time of beautiful falling leaves. Winter brings Christmas and New Year. People love these seasons in general, yet they get cold feet because cold equals high energy bills. Of course, those leaving in California don’t experience so much difference in their bills, but people in New York will definitely do. The question is how to save on energy bills and not to get bankrupt because of the heating expenses? Yes, you won’t be able to avoid paying for some heat, but you can lower the amount of used energy for heating your home. Read about easy ways to save on energy bill this season.
Dress appropriately
Winter season is supposed to be colder even when you are at home. Walls cool down and as a result temperature inside your home gets lower. This means that instead of turning your heating system at its maximum power, you need to simply change your home outfit habits. Take on some pants instead of shorts and add a pullover or a hoodie on top of a T-shirt. Don’t forget to wear warm sleepers to complete your “stay warm” ensemble and save on energy bill without sweating.
Decorate smartly
Add some winter decorations to your home. According to electricians, people who decorate their home with curtains and rugs can save up to 10% of their energy bills. The trick is to cover all cold surfaces on the floor with rugs, insulate your windows with thick curtains, and add some warm blankets on sofas and armchairs. In this way you will be able to keep yourself warm at every corner of your home and as a result save on energy bill.
Use free solar heating
Don’t forget all the perks that Mother Nature offer to you. Though the days are short in cold season, the sun remains warm and so can add some warmth to your home. The idea is to open all those thick curtains you bought for the winter season when the sun is high to let it warm your home from the outside. And once the sun hides, you need to close the curtains to preserve that received natural heat for the night.
Minimize the use of steam sip-off machines
The use of a steam sip-off machine in the kitchen to avoid accumulation of food smell in the house is something you won’t be able to avoid even in order to save on energy bill. However, you can control the times when you use it in the kitchen and in the bathroom. For example, there is no need to keep the bathroom sip-off machine running 24/7 because it’s efficient only during the first 30 minutes of running, then it’s a waste of energy. Same rule applies to the kitchen machine. Turn them on only when you’re in the room and don’t leave them running for longer than 30 minutes after you leave the room.
Change the filter regularly
Regular cleaning and replacement of air filter in your home will save energy required to your HVAC system to run clean air throughout the premises. This means that you can easily save on energy bill by cleaning your AC filter. Professionals advise cleaning air filter for home ventilation systems once a month and replacing them once a year or according to the manual.
Get ceiling fans going
Ceiling fans don’t need much energy for running, yet they can help you with preserving constant comfort temperature at home. Hot air raises which means that everything you heat will stay somewhere at the ceiling and you will need to heat the lower layers of air again to feel comfortable. You are basically paying twice to keep your home cozy! So instead of paying two times, you can just keep the ceiling fan running and as a result keep hot air closer to you and not let it get high. This seems to be obvious, yet a lot of people neglect this fact. Be smart and save on energy bill.
Control the thermostat
There is absolutely no need to keep hot air coming in your home when you’re away. Yes, it’s great coming to a warm house after a long and tiresome winter working day, but don’t spend a fortune on it. All you need is to keep your thermostat off when you leave home. In case air temperature outside gets really low, you can at least lower overall heating temperature two-five degrees lower. This will allow you to save on energy bill without sacrificing your comfort.
These tricks seem to be obvious, but don’t forget to follow them this winter. Dress warmer, control your thermostat, and use winter decorations to your advantage! Save on energy bill today, and go on extra holiday tomorrow!
