The easiest way to save money on heating is to keep your thermostat as low as your comfort will allow. Adding a layer, slippers, a hat or a lap dog can keep you comfortable in a cooler home.
Photo by Mark Gilliland
Nobody likes being cold, and when the temperature drops, household energy consumption naturally increases. Use these tips to stay warm this winter and keep your power bill under control.
Set the thermostat lower and bundle up. Heating accounts for the highest wintertime energy consumption in most homes. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a thermostat setting of 68 degrees in the winter while you are awake and lower when you are asleep or away from home. Adding an additional layer of clothing, slippers and a hat can keep you comfortable in a cooler home.
Check those air filters. Whether they are powered by natural gas, propane, oil or electricity, all forced-air heating systems lose efficiency if the filter is clogged. Smart homeowners make it a point to change filters frequently.
Use space heaters carefully. Electric resistance space heaters are great for heating small rooms or immediate workspaces for a limited time, but they use a lot of electricity in the process, so you may see an increase on your next electric bill. If you choose to use space heaters, use them safely. Keep them 3 feet away from anything flammable, do not leave them unattended, and plug them directly into the outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
Seal the gaps. Air sealing can make a big improvement in the comfort of your home as well as provide energy savings. Cold, windy days are the perfect time to find and fill gaps. Apply weatherstripping to exterior doors and windows and seal gaps in walls and around plumbing penetrations with expanding foam to help eliminate drafts.
Miranda Boutelle has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home, and she writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 electric co-ops.