It's getting chilly
The days are getting shorter, the leaves have fallen, and we are starting to put on an extra layer or two in the mornings. Yes, before we know it winter will be here in all its glory. This time of year often means families across the country incur additional expenses ranging from holiday shopping to travel to higher energy bills. While the forecasts for the winter seem to vary somewhat, the cost of the energy we need to heat our home is up from last year. The good news is that there are a few things we can still do to help conserve and manage our heating and energy costs. Here is a list of some ideas:
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Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and then close them at night to help keep the heat in.
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Cover drafty windows with a heavy-duty, clear plastic on a frame or tape the clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce cold air from getting in.
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Find and seal air leaks around pipes, gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
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Add caulk or weather-stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
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If you have a forced air heating system, check the air filter every month. Replace it every 3 months or when it's dirty. It's surprising how much a dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of the furnace.
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When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat for your forced air system back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating bills. If you have hot water radiators or baseboard heat, turn it back about 5 or 10 degrees. Radiant floor heating systems don't benefit from short term thermostat changes so it's best not to adjust them.
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If you have older style windows with storm windows, make sure the storm windows are in good working order and close them for the winter. This acts like a second layer of glazing and can help cut down on drafts and heat loss.
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When a fireplace is not in use make sure the damper is closed. Do however, make absolutely sure that it is open before starting a fire!
A note about wood: While wood is a common means to help heat our homes, there are some important safety tips to remember. Make sure you flue is clean before the season starts. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for wood (and gas) stoves. Never leave a fire unattended. Don't burn trash in a fireplace or wood stove.
Who left the lights on?
Have you ever walked into a room and found the lights on? Who left the light on?!? Or perhaps your arms are full and you walk into a dark room without a hand to turn the lights on. There are automated light switches that can help. It's possible that we have noticed them in commercial settings; those sensors that turn the lights on when we walk into a meeting room or other space. These are called occupancy sensors, and they are getting popular in home settings now. Aside from being convenient, they can help save some energy.
Occupancy sensors turn on lights when we walk into a room, and turn them off when no one is in the room. They are great for rooms or areas where light are unintentionally left on; like kid's rooms. They are also great for rooms where you might come in with your hands full; like a laundry room or a basement.
What makes them a great fit for our homes is some of the features. Some models come with manual on/off controls so that you can force a light on or off (bypassing the sensor). Many people like to be able to dim a light, and some models have a dimmer built in to allow you to set the brightness of the light. Some of the models have a 180 degree field of view range covering up to 900 sq. ft. to catch a wide area of the room. In this age where we are trying to be more eco-conscious, many of the models work with LEDs, CFLs and incandescent bulbs.
At first thought one might dismiss the idea, but these sensors can be handy around the house. Some of the rooms where they can be a great fit are laundry rooms, garages, utility rooms, mud rooms, attics, kid's play rooms, and basements.