Lowering Your Energy Bills in Winter

Making long term changes to your budget and your finances is like finding a good diet – you need to find ways to make positive changes which are easy to maintain and integrate into your life. Just as there is no point consuming nothing but lettuce and water to lose weight fast, there is no point in getting rid of your heaters and keeping all the lights turned off in your home to save money this winter, because when you fall off the wagon you will fall off in a big way.

Instead of binging on chocolate and ice cream and ending up weighing more than you did before your lettuce leaf diet, if you starve yourself around the home to save on your energy bills this winter you will likely find yourself throwing in the towel and throwing on the heater at full blast when you frustratingly can’t keep to your crazy new regime.

Instead, consider the following four ways you can sustainably and realistically lower your energy bills during winter, and avoid an expensive heating binge.

Maintenance

A small financial investment and a little time in the maintenance of your heating systems and you home can save you on winter energy bills without you even noticing a change in your habits. For example, before you use your furnace for the first time in winter, have it serviced. Your gas and oil company may even include this service in your contract, or you may have to pay a small nominal fee. The results of a more efficient furnace can save you up to $400 this winter.

If you have forced air, check your air filter as a clogged filter will drastically reduce the efficiency of your heater forcing the warm air through the heating ducts into your home. Also make sure to maintain your windows, which are what is keeping the now efficient, warm air in your home. First use a calking gun and seal up any gaps, but also check on a windy day whether there is still cold air coming through as you may need to seal the entire frame. Also look at replacing the rubber seals between the window and the frame. This is an easy maintenance job for a local contractor, or you can do it yourself.

Upgrades

Some areas of your home may need a slightly larger investment to bring them up to an efficiency which will save you money in the long term. For example, start by looking at where you live, because some areas will have low gas prices, while in others it will be very cheap to heat oil. Or if electricity is the most common source of energy in your area then consider switching your home to take advantage of the source which is the cheapest for your location.

You could also consider upgrading your heating system to solar, which uses the free energy from the sun to heat your water and run your power. This can be a significant initial investment but the savings you make by generating your own power will make up for the costs in the long run. There may even be rebates available in your area for installing a solar system.

Consider upgrading your heating system to include a programmable thermostat which will heat your home only when you need it to, and you don’t have to pay for forgetting to turn off the heater. You can program the thermostat to turn the heater on half an hour before you get home from work to warm up the house and program it to turn off or down automatically at night.

Updates

To save money on your energy bill this winter you can also look at where you can update what you already have. For example, invest in another set of curtains which are thicker than the ones you have to keep the cold which is coming through the glass, coming into your home. You don’t have to redecorate your whole home as you can simply make up a set of thick curtains which you put up at the beginning of winter and take down in spring.

Also look at stopping the cold seeping into your house through the roof and walls too by updating your insulation. Have a look through the maintenance hole in your ceiling to see how much insulation is in your roof space, because it does break down and needs to be replaced. If you don’t have a solid brick house you can also insulate the walls, which can be done through a hole in your wall, and having a contractor blow in insulation. This will keep warmth in each room and stop the cold from outside, not to mention cut down noise.

Cutbacks

Yes, there are a few things you should make a conscious effort to do each day during winter to save on your energy bill, such as waiting to turn the heater on until the outside temperature drops below freezing. Also remember to wear layered clothing indoors during winter, and you can even look at investing in thermals, as wearing clothing appropriate for the season means you can delay turning on the heater and have it running lower when it is on. Keep this in mind when it comes to bed time too, and pull out those comfy flannelette or fleece pyjamas.

You probably have a number of decorative throw rugs scattered artistically on your couches and armchairs, well when you’re watching TV or reading a book, pull one of these blankets over you instead of turning on the heater. Take the blankets to bed too, as coupled with your fleece PJs and your flannelette sheets you won’t need to leave the heater on at night.

You can also make savings this winter by cutting back on your Christmas light displays. Limit the strings of fairy lights you have plugged in on and around your house, and if you just can’t go without, replace some of your displays with battery operated lights. Use timers for your lights so that they don’t run all day and night, and you don’t forget to turn them off. It is also a tradition in some cultures to only turn on your Christmas tree lights on Christmas day when your family are opening their presents.

Alban believes that a green lifestyle is not only good for the planet, but can also help to save money. When he is not writing, Alban is a writer at Savings Account Finder

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