THREE EASY WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON ELECTRICITY THIS WINTER
Written by Danny Burks
Your energy bills can skyrocket during the winter for a variety of reasons. By following just a few simple tips, you can keep your electricity bills low and avoid costly surprises during these colder months....
1) MAKE SURE WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE PROPERLY INSULATED
Weather-strip and caulk doors and windows as needed. Check your window frames for cracks and us a silicon-based caulk to fill them.
It is easy to check for air leaks in exterior doors and inexpensive to repair these leaks. One way to check for air leaks is to have someone stand on the other side of the closed door with a flashlight. If you can see the light through the cracks, the door needs to have weather-stripping installed.
2) LIMIT USAGE DURING PEAK HOURS
Peak hours refer to the times of day when the majority of energy is used in the average home. During these times, usually in the early morning and evening, energy can cost up to 60 percent more. By changing the time you do a few things around the house, you can save a lot.
Try doing your laundry during the early afternoon on the weekend or running the dryer when you go to sleep at night. If you can, cook dinners in advance or try to eat foods that require less time on the stove.
3) KEEP HEATING COSTS UNDER CONTROL
Heating your home is one of the most common ways energy to waste energy during the winter. A good rule of thumb is to keep your thermostat set around 68 degrees. This will ensure that your heater kicks on less often and your home will stay comfortable.
Each degree you lower your thermostat can save you up to three percent on your electricity bill per month. Layering your clothing and wearing sturdy socks make it possible to go even lower than the 68-degree mark if your family is comfortable in those temperatures.
If your family only uses a few rooms at a time, space heaters are a great option. Instead of heating your entire home, you can just keep the rooms you use comfortable. It is important to remember, however, that they should not be used while you are sleeping because they are a potential fire hazard.
Closing off rooms that you do not use regularly is another great way to limit your heating costs. If you have forced air heating, close the vents to unused rooms and keep their doors shut. Doing so will mean that your heater will not have to work as hard to heat the rooms you are using.
Written by Danny Burks
Your energy bills can skyrocket during the winter for a variety of reasons. By following just a few simple tips, you can keep your electricity bills low and avoid costly surprises during these colder months....
1) MAKE SURE WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE PROPERLY INSULATED
Weather-strip and caulk doors and windows as needed. Check your window frames for cracks and us a silicon-based caulk to fill them.
It is easy to check for air leaks in exterior doors and inexpensive to repair these leaks. One way to check for air leaks is to have someone stand on the other side of the closed door with a flashlight. If you can see the light through the cracks, the door needs to have weather-stripping installed.
2) LIMIT USAGE DURING PEAK HOURS
Peak hours refer to the times of day when the majority of energy is used in the average home. During these times, usually in the early morning and evening, energy can cost up to 60 percent more. By changing the time you do a few things around the house, you can save a lot.
Try doing your laundry during the early afternoon on the weekend or running the dryer when you go to sleep at night. If you can, cook dinners in advance or try to eat foods that require less time on the stove.
3) KEEP HEATING COSTS UNDER CONTROL
Heating your home is one of the most common ways energy to waste energy during the winter. A good rule of thumb is to keep your thermostat set around 68 degrees. This will ensure that your heater kicks on less often and your home will stay comfortable.
Each degree you lower your thermostat can save you up to three percent on your electricity bill per month. Layering your clothing and wearing sturdy socks make it possible to go even lower than the 68-degree mark if your family is comfortable in those temperatures.
If your family only uses a few rooms at a time, space heaters are a great option. Instead of heating your entire home, you can just keep the rooms you use comfortable. It is important to remember, however, that they should not be used while you are sleeping because they are a potential fire hazard.
Closing off rooms that you do not use regularly is another great way to limit your heating costs. If you have forced air heating, close the vents to unused rooms and keep their doors shut. Doing so will mean that your heater will not have to work as hard to heat the rooms you are using.
No comments:
Post a Comment