Improving Energy Efficiency in Your Home During Winter

Winter is coming! Fall is a great time to make improvements to your home to reduce your energy bills over the upcoming winter months. You need not spend a lot of money to see significant savings in your electric and heating bills. Here are a few ways of improving energy efficiency in your home during winter.

Change Light Bulbs

If you have regular incandescent light bulbs throughout your home, it’s time for a change! LED bulbs offer the same (if not more) level of brightness while using a fraction of the electricity. Consider changing the light bulbs throughout your home, to save money year round. If you can’t replace all of your bulbs, focus on the ones that you use most such as exterior lights that you leave on during the night or most frequently used rooms in the home.

Fill Leaks and Gaps

Air leaks are a major contributor to your heating costs. With an inexpensive tube of caulk from your local hardware store, you can fill gaps along windows, doors, and other areas of your home. This will prevent warm air from escaping your home. Your heating system will run less frequently and use less fuel, thus reducing your heating bill.

Replace Heating Filters

If you have a forced hot air heating system, then you have an air filter. This filter should be changed regularly, especially during months of heavy usage. If your filter is dirty, less air will pass through. Think of the dirt caught in your filter as creating a wall that air must pass through. Your heating system will need to work harder and use more fuel as a result. The simple act of cleaning or replacing your filter will instantly improve energy efficiency in your home during winter.

Leave Your Curtains/Blinds Open During the Day

The sun offers free heat! Use the daytime sun to heat up your home by leaving your blinds and curtains open. Of course, you’ll want to first address drafty windows either by caulking the gaps or covering the entire window with plastic. Modern window covering kits are almost invisible to the eye, so you can still enjoy the sun and your views.

Other Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Home During Winter

For additional ways to improve energy efficiency in your home during winter, consider performing an energy audit. Organizations such as MassSave will do this for free and extend discounts for certain home improvements. Also, read our blog post on 5 Ways to Reduce Home Heating Costs.