Six Home Energy Tips to Save Money and Stay Warm

The days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are getting colder. However, home energy bills seem to do the opposite, increase. According to The Department Of Energy, the average American spends around $2000 every year on energy costs. Of that $2,000 in energy cost, around $900 of which is contributed to heating, almost half! Luckily there are simple steps you can take to lower that cost. So here are six tips to save money and stay warm this winter

1. Set The Thermostat To 68 Degrees
For some of you, that may seem like a terrible thing to do, but studies show that you use anywhere from 3-5% more energy for each degree over 68 degrees Fahrenheit. So the next time you reach for the thermostat, grab a sweater instead you will be surprised at how much money you will save over the course of the winter.

2. Lower the Thermostat When You Leave The House
It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to heat an empty house. By lowering your thermostat when you leave can save you up to 15% per year on your utility bills. Most thermostats are programmable which is a great alternative to constantly lowering and raising the heat yourself. If you are gone all day at work, program the thermostat to go much lower in the morning right when you leave. On the contrary, program the heat to kick on about an hour before you get home. Rather than the house being heated for 24 hours of the day, it is only heated for the time you are actually there.

3. Close All Blinds At Night
You may already be doing this. However, if you don’t, you are letting warm air that you spend $900 per year on the leak out of your home and ultimately have to spend more money. A simple investment that is cost-effective is a “thermal blackout” curtain which does an excellent job at preventing the transfer of heat. As mentioned in another post, slowing the movement of heat is the trick to keeping your home consistently warm throughout without having to heat it all day long.

4. Insulate
No more cold rooms and floors. The leading cause of energy loss in a home is inadequate insulation. Adding insulation to your attic or walls will help keep your home warm in the winter. You will save money on your utilities, and your home will be more comfortable with an even temperature throughout the house.

5. Maintain Your HVAC Duct System
Leaking air ducts are a major source of energy loss. Faulty duct systems are responsible for leaking 20% of the air that passes through holes, poorly sealed or connected joints, and fallen ducts. If you experience stuffy rooms that never feel comfortable, are hard to heat and cool, or have high utility bills you likely have poorly performing ducts.

6. Identify Air Leaks
Checking for air leaks around doors and windows and adding weather stripping is another simple and cost-effective way to prevent energy loss in your home YEAR-ROUND. Once the “leaky” doors and windows have been addressed simply add weather stripping to the top and bottom of the window or door which can be purchased at any hardware store or Home Depot for about $1 per foot of stripping.

By following these six simple steps, you can save money and stay warm this winter. Here at REenergizeCO, we take every avenue to help our customers get the most out of their insulation repairs and assist them to find the biggest problem areas in their home. If you are wondering why your home is colder in certain areas, drop us a line to schedule a 100% free estimate and start living more comfortably.