Frugal Invitation: Guest Post: Saving On Winter Energy Bills

Frugal Living Strategies: Saving on Winter Energy Bills

You don’t have to turn off the heat and take cold showers just to save a few dollars on your energy bill this winter. With some of the coldest months still ahead, there’s a lot of money to be saved if you’re willing to take the time to consider and change your winter energy-using habits. And if you’ve been scrimping in discomfort, you might discover a way to save energy that lets you stay warmer in your own home. Whether you’re a thrifty pro or you’re just starting to discover how to save on a variety of life’s little expenses, you can check the following list of tips to make sure you’re squeezing the most value out of every dollar you spend on your winter bills.

Doors & Windows

Check around windows and doors to make sure heat isn’t escaping, then make sure you get the correct weatherstripping for the materials used on the exterior of your house. To check the effectiveness of your door and window seals, light a candle and gently move it around the edges of your doors and windows. If it flickers, there’s air moving through the spaces around the frames and you’ll need to replace the weatherstripping. Simply take a trip to your local hardware store and ask the experts which types of weatherstripping will be best for the materials used in your door and window frames: metal, rubber, foam, or plastic. Most of these are simple to install and don’t require heavy power tools – some can even be attached with adhesive or staples. This is an inexpensive way to make sure you aren’t losing valuable heated air through your windows and doors.

It’s also important to make sure you replace any cracked glass in your windows. Cracks in window glass let your heated air escape even if you’ve got perfect weatherstripping, so don’t let them increase your energy bill this winter.

Ceiling Fans

Change the direction of your fan blades so that warm air trapped between the fan blades and the ceiling can be pushed down into the room where you can enjoy it. By using the lowest setting, you’ll get the benefits of warm air without any draftiness. Turn off any fans in rooms that aren’t being used to save electricity.

Programmable Thermostat

This investment is worth every penny, as you probably know if you already have a programmable thermostat. Leave the heat off during the day when no one is home and program it to come on an hour before the first person arrives, allowing your home to warm up to a comfortable temperature without wasting energy all day. The same can be done at night – turn the thermostat down, but schedule it to get warmer about an hour before you typically get up. This way, you can save without the discomfort of being cold all day and all night. Remember to reprogram your thermostat when you go on vacation – you don’t need to alter the temperature of your home when no one is there.

Water Heater

Turn down your water heater to save some energy without getting too cold. You probably don’t use water at the highest temperature indicated on your water heater, so don’t leave it set to that temperature. You can turn it down to the warmest temperature you use and save plenty of energy in the process.

Laundry & Dishwasher

Don’t run small loads of laundry or dishes. By filling your appliances to their highest capacity each time you use them, you’re increasing their efficiency and decreasing waste. It’s also helpful to use cold water for most of your laundry loads, saving you the expense of heating water.

Appliances

Use Energy Star appliances as much as possible to increase the efficiency of your home’s energy consumption. This will decrease your electric bill and keep you from wasting energy unnecessarily.

Electrical Outlets

Don’t leave small appliances plugged into the wall. Even when they’re not in use, they draw electricity and waste energy. So unless you use something on a daily basis, unplug it to save on your bills.

Do you have any more energy-saving tips to reduce winter bills? Please share them in the comments.

Photo: Public Domain
URL: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4315555004_e6b619dc39.jpg

Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go college, where recently she's been researching nursing grants & scholarships and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and hogging her boyfriend’s PlayStation 3. To keep her sanity she enjoys practicing martial arts and bringing home abandon animals.