During the winter, people would definitely see a dramatic increase on their utility bills brought by colder weather. Is this something we should accept? Definitely not! There are plenty of ways to reduce the consumption of energy to heat your home. You would be able to save a lot of money in the process, too!
Here are some tips on how you can cut your energy consumption at home:
Unplug electronics that are not in use.
Even if your television or computer is turned off, as long as it’s still plugged in, it’s still sucking up electricity. Just like how you would turn off the faucet to keep water from running; the same could be done to electrical outlets. You can do this by simply unplugging your electronics when they’re not in use.
Switch to LEDs.
During the winter, the days are shorter so we tend to switch on the lights a lot earlier than other days. The bulbs you use around the house should be as energy-efficient as possible. LED bulbs consume less energy by 80% compared to regular bulbs. They also last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Most LED bulbs now come with reasonable prices. You’ll definitely be saving more money because you don’t have to keep changing them ever so often.
Dress up.
The simplest way you can help yourself save on energy consumption is to turn down the thermostat to a few degrees. Dress up accordingly! You should utilize the things you have that won’t cost you more money such as your sweaters, slippers and blankets. You will be able to help yourself save energy and money without really doing anything unusual.
Insulate your house properly.
Make sure that your walls, windows, floor and the roof of your house are properly sealed. If these spots are not properly insulated, you’re going to need more heat before your home gets warm enough. Find out where heat is leaking around your house and spend time applying insulation to those spots.
Invest in double or triple-paned windows.
Single-paned windows do not really keep heat trapped inside the house. Most heat from houses leak out of windows. Double or triple-paned windows combined with well-insulated trims are helpful in keeping the heat indoors. Make sure that the trim of the windows are sturdy.
Utilize blinds, shades and window treatments.
When the sun is up and sunlight comes directly through your window, make sure that your window treatments are open as direct sunlight can easily warm up a room. When night comes, make sure that you put the shades or curtains down to prevent heat from leaking out the windows.
