How to Reduce Energy Usage during the Winter Months

Energy bills can soar during the winter months if you don’t take steps to reduce your energy usage. There are a lot of things you can do to cut winter heating cost. Some of the following tips are exceptionally simple and involve little expense. Some of the suggestions require that you spend some money upfront, but the overall savings you achieve make it worth the investment.

Warm Clothes and Bedding

Many people enjoy spending some extra time indoors during the winter months. To increase your comfort level without pushing the thermostat higher, you can dress in layers while hanging around the house or you can treat yourself and the whole family to some ultra-comfortable, warm pajamas or lounging clothes. Turn the thermostat down at night and snuggle up under a thick, warm comforter.

Adjusting the Thermostat

Automated thermostats are an affordable way to save energy throughout the year. In the winter, you can set the thermostat so that the indoor temperature is cooler during the day when no one is home and have it programmed to increase the temperature in time for the house to be comfortably warm when you get home.

Keep the Cold Air Out

One of the most effective things you can do to reduce your energy cost in the winter is to keep the cold air out of the house. If you have old, drafty windows, replacing those windows with energy efficient windows can reduce your heating costs. It’s also important to note that installing replacement windows is a home update project that yields a high return on investment, so contact a company like Pella Windows and Doors of Wisconsin soon.

General Maintenance

A heating system that isn’t working at its optimum best can cause your heating bill to increase. Having routine maintenance done on your system is one way to know that it’s working properly. Regularly changing the filters will also keep your system working efficiently. It’s also important to be sure that you don’t have furniture covering vents or blocking air flow.

Energy-Saving Indoor Adjustments and Activities

There are several simple inexpensive or no-cost things you can do to keep your heating cost down during the winter. It doesn’t cost anything to adjust your ceiling fan so that it runs clockwise in the winter. Doing some extra baking in the winter can help heat up the house. Your family won’t mind having some tasty baked goods to enjoy on a cold day. For a small price, you can purchase a humidifier that will keep the indoor air moist and reduce your heating cost. There are also many other reasons to use a humidifier in the winter. Letting the sun into a room is a free way to heat up the space. Buying thermal window treatments to cover the windows on cold cloudy days and at night is another simple way to keep your home warm in winter.

By implementing some of these tips, you can reduce energy usage during the winter yet keep your home comfortably warm. Finding ways to save on your heating cost can make winter a less stressful time of year for you.