It may be a warm October in New Jersey, but as they say on Game of Thrones, winter is coming.
Taking steps to reduce your energy usage during the coldest months of the year not only lowers your utility bill but also lessens your impact on the environment.
These 8 simple energy saving tips will have you ready when the cold weather finally arrives.
1. Let the sun do some of the heating
The sun pumps out plenty of heat no matter how cold it is outside. Open curtains on southern-facing windows during the day to let the sunlight naturally warm your home, then close them again at night to keep out the chill of cold windows.
2. Change the direction of your ceiling fans
Using fans to trap warmth may seem counterintuitive, but that’s exactly what they do when you reverse their direction. Fans should spin counter-clockwise to push warm air up in the summer and clockwise to push it down in the winter.
The difference between no fan and a clockwise-spinning fan is especially noticeable in rooms with high ceilings where the heat rises and concentrates near the top.
3. Invest in a smart thermostat
The U.S. Department of Energy says that you can save 10 percent annually on heating bills by lowering the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day. A programmable thermostat or even a smart thermostat that you can control from your phone lets you cool things off at night or while you’re at work before returning to normal before you wake up or get home.
4. Close off vents in unused rooms
Fully heating spare bedrooms or other spaces that you don’t use is a waste of energy. Closing vents in these rooms increases energy efficiency and directs heat to the rooms you do use.
5. Replace your furnace filter
A dirty filter makes your furnace work less effectively. Check it every month and replace it when it gets too dirty.
6. Replace old weatherstripping
Most weatherstripping needs to be replaced every few years. Check every door and window in the house for drafts and replace the weatherstripping if necessary to prevent heat loss in these areas.
7. Decorate with LED lighting
The end of fall and the approach of winter means decorating for Halloween and Christmas. LED lights last many times longer than incandescent lights and consume at least 75 percent less energy.
Don’t forget to unplug them when not in use to prevent them from drawing unneeded power.
8. Keep fireplace heat inside
An open fireplace damper is the same as having an open window in your house. Keep it closed whenever you don’t have a fire burning.
Consider installing tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system to blow warm air back into the room when you light a fire instead of letting it all escape out the chimney.
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