10 Winter Energy Saving Tips

Everything you do in your home, from cooking dinner to taking a shower, uses energy. Being a conscious energy consumer and knowing exactly how you use it, can greatly reduce your energy bill and help the environment. 
This winter, and beyond, be more responsible with your energy consumption. 

10 Winter Energy Savings Tips

1.  Take advantage of the sun.  Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Don't forget to close them at night when the sun begins to set to reduce the chill. Make sure to keep these windows clean up let the light through.
2.  Cover drafty windows.  Use a heavy-duty clear plastic sheet to cover drafty windows in the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly. When winter is over, make sure to save the plastic for next year.
3.  Find and seal leaks.  Add caulking or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
4.  Keep doors closed.  Keeping doors closed will help keep heat in. It is especially important to keep doors to unheated rooms, such as the garage, closed to minimize heat loss.
5.  Use appliances efficiently.  Do only full loads when using the dishwasher and washing machine. Use the cold water cycle on your washing mashing when you can. Using cold water reduces energy consumption by 75%. 
6.  Reduce heat loss from the fireplace.  Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Check the seal on the fireplace to make sure it is as tight as possible and cold air is not getting in when it is not in use. 
7.  Lighting solutions.  Replace your home's light bulbs with LED bulbs. These bulbs take less energy to power, and unlike incandescent bulbs, do not give off as much energy as heat. Also use LED holiday lighting to reduce the cost of decorating your home during the holidays.
8.  Insulate!  Check the insulation in places like your basement, garage and attic. Do not heat these areas unless they are properly insulated.
9.  Bundle up.  Save money on your heating bill by programming your thermostat to a lower temperature at night and when you are not in the house. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 degrees Celsius can save as much as 4% on your heating bill.
10.  Maintain filters.  Cleaning your furnace filter every few months will increase its efficiency, and save money on your energy bill.


Do you have any winter energy saving tips?