1.Use the sun when you can
If it’s a warm sunny day, open the curtains and let the sun heat your home for free and then close them at dusk so they help insulate your home and keep the warm air in.
2. Put on a Sweater, Jumper, Jersey, Windcheater, Pullover
Gone are the days (for most of us at least) when we can afford to lounge around in our underwear while it’s frosty outside. Roughly speaking, a light long-sleeved sweater is worth about 2 degrees in added warmth, while a heavy sweater (even the ugliest of ugly sweaters) adds about 4 degrees. So cozy up and start saving.
3. Dodge the Draughts or (Draft(s)
Draughts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Start simple and adopt that old Great Depression fixture — the draft snake, which you can easily make yourself. Just place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, or make a more attractive DIY draft snake with googly eyes, felt tongues and the like. You can use any scraps of fabric — even neckties — and fill with sand or kitty litter. Make sure drafts aren’t giving your thermostat a false reading too, and read on for more advanced solutions.
4. Use Caulking and Weather-stripping
Simple leaks can sap home energy efficiency by 5% to 30% a year. That means it pays to seal up gaps with caulking and weather stripping. Take a close look at places where two different building materials meet, such as corners, around chimneys, where pipes or wires exit and along the foundation. Use the incense test: carefully (avoiding drapes and other flammables) move a lit stick along walls; where the smoke wavers, you have air sneaking in. And heating or cooling sneaking out. In another method, have someone on the outside blow a hair dryer around each window while you hold a lighted candle inside. If the candle flickers or goes out, you need to caulk or weather strip around the frame.
5. Lock off fireplace flues.
Traditional fireplaces can be energy losers because they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. When not in use, make sure the lid to the flue is closed.
6. Eliminate wasted energy.
Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and unplug other appliances at the switch when you don’t need them. Turn off kitchen and bath fans once they’ve done their job as they can blow out a houseful of heated air.
7. Use appliances efficiently.
Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and washing machine. Use cold water settings for clothes, clean your dryer’s lint trap regularly and if you have one, use the moisture-sensing automatic dryer setting.
These might seem like insignificant changes, but when used in combination, these energy saving tips can keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.
These might seem like insignificant changes, but when used in combination, these energy saving tips can keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.
8. Insulate Your Pipes
Pay less for hot water by insulating pipes. That can also help decrease the chance of pipes freezing, which can be disastrous. Check to see if your pipes are warm to the touch. If so, they are good candidates for insulation. (Use the same method to determine if your hot water heater would benefit from some insulation.)
You can get pre-slit pipe foam at most hardware stores. Cut it to size and fasten in place with duct tape. Ideally, choose the insulation with the highest R-value practical, which is a measure of its heat-blocking power.
8. Boost Insulation
It may not seem sexy, but insulation is one of the best ways to save energy and money at home. It can make a big difference to add more insulation between walls, and make sure your attic floor and basement ceiling are well covered.
9. Shorten showers.
Reducing shower time by a few minutes can save you money considerably over a month, particularly if the whole family abides by this change. Showers account for a decent portion of your water heating costs so cut down the time your shower takes to reduce your bill.
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