Winter Energy Savers

Winter Energy Saving Tips and Ideas
Winter

Winterization
Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during then winter can waste a substantial portion of your energy dollars. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. You can save 10% or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home.

General Tips:

Install attic fans in rooms with cathedral ceilings to bring the warm air that rises back down to the floor.
Set the thermostat and keep it there. The most economical operation of your system comes from setting the thermostat properly. Set the thermostat at the highest summer setting or the lowest winter setting at which you are comfortable. Typical settings are 78 degrees for summer cooling and 68 degrees for winter heating. When cooling, your operating costs increase from 3% to 8% for each degree your thermostat is lowered. When heating, your operating costs increase similarly for each degree your thermostat is raised.
Keep the air filter clean. The easiest way to ensure your system operates efficiently and economically is by keeping the air filter clean. There are several types of air filters and several possible locations for the air filter. Ask your service technician next time he's out at your home to show you where your air filter is located and which type of filter to use. If you have allergies, you should look at a pleated allergy filter or a media or electronic style air cleaner.
Keep your doors and windows closed. Close all doors and windows to the outside. This will reduce the heating load in winter and the cooling load in summer. Your system will operate more economically as a result.
Keep vents and grilles unobstructed. Arrange your furniture and drapes so that all output vents and intake grilles are free from obstruction. This will reduce the cooling and heating load on your system for more economical operation.
Avoid excess use of exhaust fans. Excessive use of kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans will make your system work harder. This will increase energy consumption and costs. Keep costs in check by making wise use of exhaust fans.
Control direct sunlight into your home. Let the sun in during the winter. In winter, direct sunlight reduces the load on your heating system. Open window shades and awnings to increase direct sunlight and lower the heating load.
Keep heat away from the thermostat. Make sure no-heat generating appliances are near your thermostat. These include lamps, TV's, stereo and computer equipment.
You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to 30% by investing just a few hundred dollars in proper insulation and winterization products. Also heating and cooling your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically 44% of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling.
When you cozy up next to a cracking fire on a cold winter day, you probably don't realize that your wood-burning brick or masonry fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources you can possibly use. It literally sends your energy dollars right up the chimney along with volumes of warm air. A roaring fire can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside, which must be replaced by cold air coming into the home from outside. Your heating system must warm up this air, which is then exhausted through your chimney. If you use your conventional fireplace while your central heating system is on, the preceding tips can help reduce your energy losses.