5 Energy-Saving Tips When Heating Your Home

In many homes, heating and cooling are the biggest monthly expenses after paying for the home itself. For that reason, you’ll make a big dent in your monthly budget by learning how to save energy with these 5 energy-saving tips.

1. Seal Windows and Doors

Most of the heat your home loses goes out of doors and windows. Reduce this first by opening each of these only when you have to. Second, check for drafts and seal them up.

Feel around them while closed to see if you feel cold air coming in. That is actually heat escaping. It always moves toward the coldest place. 

Consider caulking, weather-stripping, and other solutions. Adding some heavy curtains can further reduce heat loss, especially if you have thin window panes.

2. Get the Most of Solar Energy

You don’t have to get solar panels for this one. If it’s not bitterly cold outside, any direct sun can heat up the window glass and room faster than you lose heat. This is true even when the sky is gray. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, a south-facing window will get the most direct sun during the winter. But be sure to close the curtains at night to avoid negating the effect.

3.  Acclimate Yourself 

Did you ever wonder how people who live in sub-tropical climates can handle all that heat and humidity? The body learns to regulate its comfort level based on what it’s used to. 

As the winter months approach, begin allowing yourself to be a little cold. Maybe, don’t pull the scarves and coats out of storage as soon as you normally would. Spend a little more time outside as the chill fills the air. Resist the temptation to bundle up or run inside to a toasty fire. 

Now, as the days get even colder, you’ll feel very comfortable at a lower room temperature. 

4. Dress for the Season

When you were a child and complained you were cold to a teacher or parent, chances are they told you to dress more warmly. What you wear matters.

You don’t have to go as far as wearing your full coat, hat, and gloves indoors. Simply, choosing to wear only long-sleeved shirts and pants can make a huge difference.

5. Don’t Adjust the Temperature to Comfort

This one sounds totalitarian. But it’s not as bad as you might think. 

Many people have a habit of constantly adjusting the thermostat when they feel a chill.

It’s horrible on your heating bill. Instead of holding a fairly steady temperature, the heater must use a lot more energy at once to achieve a new goal. Except, every time it reaches its goal, you change it.

That’s not fair!

Room temperatures naturally rise and fall slightly. Your skin can notice these subtle shifts. And before more modern ways of heating a room, people may have adjusted their clothing layers or warmed themselves by moving around.

If your first instinct is to adjust the room temperature, stop, think, and replace this habit with one that doesn’t raise your energy costs.