
Cold weather is upon us and it is time to hibernate for the winter. Here are some low to no cost tips on how to stay cozy while keeping your resource consumption low.
Seal Openings in Your Home. Drafts from windows, doors, attics, and other openings in your home can cause high levels of heat loss during the cold season. An easy way to keep your home more comfortable and reduce your monthly energy cost is to seal your house. You can caulk old around windows and doors that have cracks. Buy seals for the bottom of exterior doors. Put outlet pads behind your electrical outlets and light switches. And seal attic access. Additionally you can cover windows with blankets to increase insulation value keeping your homes temperature properly regulated.
Install a Programmable Thermostat. This will allow you to accurately set the temperature for every time of the day. Stopping your heater from running when the house isn’t occupied or your cozy under your comforter. Additionally if your heating system has the ability you can heat specific rooms reducing the time and energy associated with heating an entire house. You can check out all your options at sustainableliving.solutions
Insulate your Water Heater and Turn Down the Temperature. During the cold winter hot water is a hot commodity. You can reduce the amount of energy needed to keep your water heated two ways. The first, wrap your water heater in an approved insulated blanket. This will keep your hot water warm when it is sitting in the tank waiting to be used. Second, you can turn your temperature set point down, we recommend keeping your temperature between 110 and 120 degrees. Standard manufacturing set point is 140 degrees.
Dress Appropriately. While this seems simple, it is a great reminder that before you go cranking up your heater and burning old dinosaurs for heat, put on your favorite sweatpants and wool socks, or keep your head warm with the beanie grandma made you.
Keep Air Quality High. Since your will be getting less air flow than during the warm months, your air quality can slightly diminish. An easy, aesthetically pleasing way keep your air fresh is by placing green (particularly broad leafed) plants in every room. They will not only increase the oxygen levels in the house, but will also clean toxins and particulates out of the air.
Seal Openings in Your Home. Drafts from windows, doors, attics, and other openings in your home can cause high levels of heat loss during the cold season. An easy way to keep your home more comfortable and reduce your monthly energy cost is to seal your house. You can caulk old around windows and doors that have cracks. Buy seals for the bottom of exterior doors. Put outlet pads behind your electrical outlets and light switches. And seal attic access. Additionally you can cover windows with blankets to increase insulation value keeping your homes temperature properly regulated.
Install a Programmable Thermostat. This will allow you to accurately set the temperature for every time of the day. Stopping your heater from running when the house isn’t occupied or your cozy under your comforter. Additionally if your heating system has the ability you can heat specific rooms reducing the time and energy associated with heating an entire house. You can check out all your options at sustainableliving.solutions
Insulate your Water Heater and Turn Down the Temperature. During the cold winter hot water is a hot commodity. You can reduce the amount of energy needed to keep your water heated two ways. The first, wrap your water heater in an approved insulated blanket. This will keep your hot water warm when it is sitting in the tank waiting to be used. Second, you can turn your temperature set point down, we recommend keeping your temperature between 110 and 120 degrees. Standard manufacturing set point is 140 degrees.
Dress Appropriately. While this seems simple, it is a great reminder that before you go cranking up your heater and burning old dinosaurs for heat, put on your favorite sweatpants and wool socks, or keep your head warm with the beanie grandma made you.
Keep Air Quality High. Since your will be getting less air flow than during the warm months, your air quality can slightly diminish. An easy, aesthetically pleasing way keep your air fresh is by placing green (particularly broad leafed) plants in every room. They will not only increase the oxygen levels in the house, but will also clean toxins and particulates out of the air.