Save On Energy Bills This Winter

1. Get a programmable thermostat. When used properly, a programmable thermostat can save more than $100 in energy costs each year. This will make the initial investment worthwhile. This upgrade will pay for itself in a year or two. Basically, a programmable thermostat allows you to turn down the heat when no one is at home during the day or when everyone is asleep under the covers at night. The temperature will adjust automatically, so you do not have to worry about doing it yourself every day.
2. Focus on lighting. Nights are long during the wintertime, so you can save money by getting more efficient light bulbs, such as LED or compact florescent bulbs. These bulbs can save at least 75% on energy costs compared to incandescent bulbs. They also last much longer, so you will not have to buy replacements for years to come.
3. Turn your water heater down. Most homes have their water heaters turned up too high. You can set your appliance to heat the water to around 50 degrees. This will be sufficient for most daily tasks like showering, washing clothes and cleaning dishes.
4. Dry your clothes by hanging them. If you have a forced air furnace, the air in your home is likely to be dry during the winter. Instead of using your energy-hungry clothes dryer during the winter, you can hang your clothes up in your house after washing them. The dry air will suck out the moisture in a matter of hours. If you have a humidifier, you can turn it down or turn if off when you dry the clothes, thereby saving even more energy.
5. Seal your windows and doors. One cheaper option is to add sealant to the areas around your window frame and add weather stripping to your doors. This will stop cold air from leaking in and warm air from escaping. This, in turn, will lower the amount of energy that the furnace or heater needs to use to warm the house.

Some of these improvements are of the “do it yourself” variety, and some will require an investment. Ideally, the investment will be paid back quickly because it will lower your energy bills. If you think you would benefit from a new thermostat or new LED lights, for example, you can get an online personal loan to cover the initial cost. You can be confident that these improvements will save energy in the long run, so they will pay for themselves.