Hints for keeping energy and heating bills down this winter
Fall is the time to step back and consider all the seemingly insignificant ways you can cut down on those ever-growing energy and heating bills.
We spend far more time indoors than outdoors and for good reason. The days are shorter, the nights are colder and the weather can be miserable. Canada is a centrally heated and energy-dependent nation. Indications are that energy costs will continue to rise.
To keep costs down, there are many measures we can take even when we have made our homes as energy efficient as possible. Some of these measures many only save us nickels, dimes and quarters, but they add up. While many have no up-front costs, some require an initial investment that will save you dollars year after year. Some of these measures will even lower energy costs in summer.
Keep the Thermostat Down
Regardless of how you heat, you can save up to three per cent on heating bills for each degree you lower your thermostat below your normal setting. If that setting has been 72 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, and you lower it to 68 degrees, you can reduce costs about 12 per cent a year. At minimal cost, you can install a two-setting programmable thermostat, which automatically sets day and night-time temperatures.
Spot Heating
In many homes, heating is not always evenly distributed. Some rooms are generally colder than others. When you turn the thermostat down, that cool bathroom can get downright nippy. Using small, portable electric heaters can give you instant heat just when you need it. Used for only short periods, these heaters add little to your electric bill and make it much easier (and comfortable) to keep the thermostat down. An electric blanket works in much the same way. Use it to warm up a bed in a cool bedroom.
Don't sit near windows
Sitting on a sofa near a window on a cold day will often make you feel colder than sitting on the other side of the room. That's because the air temperature around a cold surface is cooler than the air temperature in the rest of the room. The temptation is to raise the temperature and waste energy. A good solution is to rearrange your furniture in winter so that seating areas are away from windows and cold exterior surfaces. Insulated, or heavy, draperies will help keep the warm air in at night, but you will want to keep these open during the day to let the sun shine through.
Make the most of solar energy
Pull up those window shades and open all the draperies. The more sun you let through your windows, the more money you'll save on heating bills. While a home's south side gets the most sun in winter, sun from any direction can be a big help.
Shrink your Home
Homeowners whose families have shrunk in size or who have large homes with rooms they never use will benefit greatly from closing off sections of house. You can cut as much as 20 per cent of your heating costs by closing off a couple of rooms. Even closing off a couple of rooms for a few days, when it is really cold, can save you money.
To close off a room, turn off the radiator or close the warm air register about two-thirds of the way. Always leave the cold air return open. Apply weatherstripping or masking tape to the door if it doesn't close tightly. Check closed-off areas regularly to ensure the temperature never falls below freezing.
Watch Those Entry Doors
Every time you open and close an entry door in winter, you are losing heat and money. Every child and house pet can increase heating costs by five per cent. Here are some tips for reducing the heat and money that flows out when you open an entry door:
1. Install a buzzer that rings when the door is open;
2. Use only one outside door at all times, preferably one that faces away from the prevailing winds;
3. If you have more than two entry doors, seal the others with weatherstripping and pack some insulation between the storm and main door. You may need to get of your home quickly in case of fire, so always consider safety first;
4. Adding an exterior porch to your home can be a good energy savings investment. A porch adds a barrier against wind, rain and snow and can significantly reduce heating bills.
Other Tips
Turn kitchen and bathroom fans off unless necessary. Fans not only use electricity. Fans not only use electricity, they suck up all the warm air you pay dearly to heat.
Fireplaces also suck out heat. Always keep the damper closed since as much as 20 per cent of heated air can escape up a chimney. If your fireplace doesn't have a damper, install one. Also consider installing a glass fire screen, which will keep air from being sucked out when you can't close the damper because the fire is still smouldering.
Real Estate News 12/12/97
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