When it comes to escaping the frigid outdoors during winter, there’s truly no place like home. However, making your house a cozy haven can leave you with a substantial heating bill. Fortunately, there are several ways you can lower your energy usage without sacrificing comfort. Here’s a look at a few options that will help you save money (while spending as little as possible):
Infrequently Used Rooms
One of the simplest energy-saving measures you can take is to use space heaters to warm up infrequently used parts of your house. Some spaces, such as attics and basements, are not hooked up to your home’s heating system. This is fine – unless you need to use that space without freezing to death.
Find online deals on heaters or cash back offers to make buying a space heater more affordable. Then, use your new heater to make those spaces comfortable when necessary. However, always remember to turn it off when you’re done. For starters, an unattended space heater can be a fire hazard. Beyond the fire risk, however, you’ll also use up electricity you don’t really need to use.
Seal Up Windows
Leaky, poorly insulated windows are one of the easiest ways to lose heat from your home. Your heating system has to work a lot harder if half of what it pumps out winds up drifting out of drafty windows. Moreover, it’s almost impossible to feel warm if you’re stuck next to a window that keeps letting in a chilly breeze.
Ideally, you would replace any leaky windows with new, well-sealed windows. However, installing new windows can be a pricey undertaking. If you don’t have the budget set aside, you can often get by with using plastic sheeting to seal the windows for the cold season. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing solution, but it will save you money and keep your house cozy.
Consider a Smart Thermostat
Picking up a smart thermostat for your home is a bit of an investment, but it’s one that can pay off big time when it comes to your energy bill. With a smart thermostat, you can set your home’s temperature much lower while no one is home. Then, when you’re on your way back, you can remotely set the temperature to warm the house back up before you arrive. This allows you to save energy instead of heating up an empty house, without sacrificing the comfort of coming in from the cold.
However, there are drawbacks to smart thermostats. You need to make sure you use them on a secure network, and if your Wi-Fi goes out, you’ll lose remote abilities. That said, it’s often worth the occasional inconvenience to have access to your home’s temperature wherever you are.
Use Layers
Although you may like your house toasty warm, a high thermostat setting might be incompatible with your budget. Fortunately, layers can help you find a temperature compromise. Investing in a nice lounge cardigan and a good pair of slippers can make you feel cozy at more moderate temperatures.
Moreover, you can put blankets in your living room or den so that you can add an extra level of coziness to your unwinding time. There are few things that feel quite as homey as snuggling up beneath a blanket with your loved ones and watching a favorite movie. It’ll be even better knowing that your heating bill won’t break the bank.
Winter weather can make your energy bill soar. Saving money during the coldest parts of the year can be a challenge, but it’s one that can be well worth it. Use these budget-friendly energy efficiency tips to keep your house comfortable and your wallet full.
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