22 Nov Tips to Save Heating and Energy Costs
People around the world love summer. You can laze on the beach, enjoy a barbeque in the backyard or go swimming, all without worrying about being too cold.
In San Antonio, we don’t worry about winter too much, until a cold day hits us like today.Then, we prefer staying at home with your heating system switched on all day. It’s nice and cozy indoors, and you are lulled into thinking that the colder days aren’t so bad. That lasts until you see the big numbers on your energy bills.
Comfort comes at a price, but several solutions many homeowners do not know about can help keep household heating and electricity costs from becoming excessive.
Program your thermostat
Each degree you lower your thermostat represents a saving of as much as 3% savings on your heating bill. A convenient way to ensure lower average thermostat settings is to program the control to turn on and switch off the heater at specified intervals. Most importantly, set the thermostat to turn down the heat during the night. Your body generates its own warmth while you sleep, and you lose little body heat when you are curled up under the covers.
Do not let someone who doesn’t understand how thermostats work, do the programming. They are likely to set it according to their immediate needs, which eventually will waste more energy and add to your energy bill. Also, if you live in a large house, divide the building into zones and program your thermostat to run the heat in certain rooms only at certain times.
Insulate your home well
It is better to retain heat than to waste power producing more of it. Adequately insulating your house reduces heat loss and the energy needs for the building. To do this, check the thickness and general condition of the insulation laid your attic. A lot of heat is lost through the attic.
Next, use a candle or an incense stick to identify gaps around doors and windows where warm air can escape, then seal those spaces with weather stripping. If that won’t do the trick, get the ill-fitting doors or windows replaced.
Manage your water heater
Raising and maintaining the temperature in your water heater accounts for 15-30% of your power bill. This is mostly because factories typically set each unit to keep water at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you set your water heater at 100 or 110 degrees, the water will still be hot enough for washing and bathing, but the unit will consume less energy. Additional savings can be gained by not keeping the water heater on all day.
Use space heaters
Instead of central heating, you can use space heaters in individual rooms. These are inexpensive and can warm an area quicker than can air circulating from wall or floor vents. Space heaters can also be adjusted easily to meet your immediate needs and to optimize energy consumption. Just be cautious when setting up and operating space heaters. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and keep the area around a heater free from flammable materials.
Update your appliances
Older appliances consume more power. If any of your appliances are at least 8 years old, consider replacing them. Your electricity costs depend greatly on how efficiently your appliances operate.