Easy Tips for Enhancing Home Energy Efficiency in Winter, Part 1
October 24, 2017
If you want to lower energy bills and keep your home warm and cozy this winter, it’s important to find ways to make your home more energy-efficient. Even if you aren’t ready to install new energy-efficient windows and replacement doors, there are many small and simple ways you can save energy in your home. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
- Warm your body. One of the easiest and least expensive ways to save energy this winter is by bundling up. There’s no need to turn yourself into an Eskimo; a warm sweater, a pair of fuzzy socks, and a few cozy throws on the furniture are enough to allow you to turn down the thermostat a few notches while still maintaining a good comfort level.
- Utilize the sun. Harness the sun’s power by using this free source of energy to heat your home. Remember to keep the curtains on your south-facing windows open on sunny winter days, then close them at night to trap that heat inside. Switch out your light summer curtains with thicker, heavier winter drapes, which do a better job of keeping the sun’s heat in at night and blocking cold outside air from entering.
- Use the thermostat wisely. Lower nighttime temperatures make for better sleep, so it makes sense to turn the thermostat down at night. And according to the S. Department of Energy, lowering your thermostat by 10-15 degrees for eight hours can save you up to 10 percent on your yearly heating bills. So, invest in a down comforter and some flannel pajamas, and crank that thermostat down when you go to bed.
- Reverse ceiling fans. As we all know, warm air rises, but it doesn’t do much good hanging up there around the ceiling. Ceiling fans set to rotate clockwise on a low setting will take care of this problem by pushing warm air back down into the room, warming it up while increasing ventilation and airflow.
Your Window & Door Specialist
Don’t forget to check back with us next month for more energy-saving ideas! In the meantime, give Renewal by Andersen of Northeast PA a call at (610) 849-2800 for all your window and door needs.
