how to lower winter energy bills

To help lower your winter energy bills you should reduce your heating bills (something that may involve areas like insulation, air sealing, new and more efficient heating systems, etc.). But you can also consider some other areas, besides those involving the heating bills...

Here are some some free or cheap ideas to reduce your energy bills in winter.

Energy savings in Sunny Days

In sunny days... let the sun enter into your home. Open drapes, and if the outdoor temperatures are sufficiently high, open your windows. Obviously, close the drapes (and the windows) at sundown.

Arranging the rooms

In older homes with leaks and insufficient insulation, avoid sitting near the windows and exterior walls. Rearrange your rooms, in order not to sit and stay too close to the exterior walls, windows and leaky places.

Fireplaces

Do not forget to keep your fireplace damper closed when not using the fireplace.

Fireplaces are a major cause of energy loss. If possible, replace traditional units with modern inserts. Traditional fireplaces pull heated air up the chimney and out of home, more than heating it.

If you do not use your fireplace, and since dampers aren't entirely efficient at blocking energy loss, block off the chimney. Use a piece of rigid insulation – one that fits snugly into the chimney.

See: New Fireplace Solutions

Computers

Put your computers and their monitors to sleep, when not using them. Most basic software (Windows, Macintosh…) come with power management features. Just turn them on. Your computer should go to sleep if you're away from it for 10 minutes or so. Do not leave it in sleep mode overnight, when not using it. Turn it off.

Unplug and switch off

Lots of electronics, including typical TVs, chargers, computer peripherals or VCR's use electricity even when they are "off." It’s true that the standby losses for each one are just a few watts, but add all those watts and you'll get a significant value.

To eliminate them, unplug electronic devices and chargers when not in use, or switch off those plugged into a power strip…

Also unplug unused appliances, if you aren't using them: the spare refrigerator in the garage, for instance.

Lights

Turn off or unplug holiday lights when not in home (during the day…) or during bedtime. Use LED lighting to get lower energy bills.

Do not forget to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, or turn off ventilating fans (kitchen and bath ones) after they've done their job. These fans can blow out the hot air, if left on inadvertently.

Short showers

Showers account for more than half of the typical home’s water heating bills. Cutting your showers some minutes can reduce your water heating bills correspondingly.

Check the setting of your water heater. The standard setting (120º F/48º C) is a convenient one, unless the dishwasher requires more.

Use appliances efficiently

Partial loads when using your dishwasher and clothes washer will cost you more. Avoid them. Whenever possible, use the cold water setting on your clothes washer.

Thermostats

You can easily save at least $100 per year on energy costs, if you use a programmable thermostat with the right settings.

For every degree you lower your heating system - in the 60º-70º range - you save up to 5% on heating bills. If you and your family are in good health, try the 68ºF/20ºC setting (or lower) during the day and evening, and see if you feel comfortable enough...

Setting the thermostat back to 55ºF/13ºC at night or when out of home for significant periods of time, will also reduce heating costs.