A Consumer’s Guide To Saving Energy And Reducing Utility Bills

Fall is in full swing and winter is right around the corner. Even though you might live in a part of the country where the winters are not too harsh, you will still need to take some precautions and get yourself ready for the winter. The change in seasons need you to make changes to your house too, such as you might have to fix your heating systems, change filters on your ventilation or air-conditioning and replace any broken doors or windows before the winter begins.

Keeping your house warm in the winter can be expensive for you if you do not have an energy efficient heating system and a perfectly insulated home. This will also include energy efficient doors and windows, insulation of the house, and the heat pumps you have installed.

By following a few simple tips, you may be able to save a significant amount of money on your energy bills. Below are few tips to keep your energy costs low in the winter.

 

Check insulation around the house

Insulation can be a very important factor in saving energy. If the insulation you have on your walls is too old, you are likely to waste more energy while trying to stay warm because most of your heat will escape through faulty insulation. For example, if you

do not have proper insulation on your attic, you could be losing over 20% of your heat through the attic, which could be saved by adding good insulation.

 

Seal your house

If your house is oldish, you might have leaks on your walls, doors or windows through which air might escape or get in. To increase the energy efficiency of your heating system you will have to seal all your open spaces around the house so that air from outside don’t get in. Residing your house, adding insulation around your doors and windows and replacing your old windows with the new energy efficient ones will serve both the purposes of looking great as well as saving you on energy bills.

 

Take advantage of natural heating

Sun is a great source of heat. So open up your curtains and let the sun heat your house for free. You may even leave the curtains open as you run off to work so that the sun will heat your rooms when you are gone.

 

Use an automatic thermostat

You can save plenty of money by using an automatic thermostat that adjusts itself according to the room temperature. The thermostat will adjust the heat when you are sleeping so that it doesn’t get too hot and you can rest easy.

 

Service your heating systems

Before the winter begins, it is best to have your heating systems checked by a professional. You might need a new energy efficient heating system or need to replace or fix your ventilation to make your heating systems more energy efficient. If your heating system is too old or if it has leaks you could be spending more than what you should on your heating bills. It is also a good idea to check whether your system is in good condition because you don’t need it to breakdown in the middle of dead winter.

From not remembering to turn off your lights when you leave the room to leaving the water running, there are so many ways we waste energy everyday in our homes. Saving energy every way we can will not only cut our utility bills down but also help us to have a positive impact on the environment. We can address

all the global issues little by little by increasing our awareness towards environmental safety. Our every step towards a green globe counts as we move towards a sustainable green lifestyle.