We all know that reducing our energy expenditures is a great way to save money and protect the environment. However, as nights grow longer and the temperatures drop, many of us find ourselves using up way more energy on heating than we really need to.
The good news is, there are tried-and-true ways to minimize your energy bills that don’t require you to pay through the nose for a brand new HVAC system or completely redo the insulation in your house.
If you still get high utility bills even after implementing the following measures, there’s a possibility that your HVAC system may be faulty or nearing the end of its life. If you’re looking to learn more about modern HVAC solutions and how they can be used to cut down on your energy expenditures, consult a HVAC company and ask for more details.
What’s the most energy-efficient temperature in the winter?
According to recent studies, the best way to conserve energy during the winter is by setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re awake and at home, and using a lower setting while you’re asleep or outside.
In fact, by simply setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees lower than its regular setting for just eight hours every day, you’ll be shaving about 10% off of your yearly heating and cooling bills. The savings are even higher if you’re located in a milder climate.
This is because there’s much less heat loss when the indoor temperatures are lower. By not having to maintain the higher temperatures at all times, your HVAC system will not only be drawing less energy, it’ll also last longer and be less likely to malfunction.
Here are a few more ways to save money on heating during winter:
- Wear warmer clothes. Simply turning down the thermostat by one degree can save you $70 per year, and you won’t even notice the difference as long as you remember to put on a bathrobe and some warm slippers while at home.
- Get a water-efficient shower head. By reducing the amount of water you spend while showering, you’ll also be spending less energy to keep that water warm.
- Make your cooking more efficient. When turned on, most ovens heat up all of the shelves regardless of whether food is being cooked on them or not. By cooking multiple meals simultaneously, you’ll not just be spending less energy, you’ll also be saving a lot of time.
- Don’t close the oven door. Closing the oven door after you’re done cooking causes excess heat to dissipate inside the oven itself. By leaving the oven open, all that heat will instead help keep your house warm.
- Cold-proof your windows. Improperly insulated doors and windows are not only ineffective when it comes to keeping the cold air out, they also can’t keep the heat in. Depending on how severe it is, you may be able to mitigate this problem by using thicker curtains, glazed windows, or weather-stripping tape.
- Spend more time with your family and pets. Bodies naturally generate heat: that’s why nightclubs always feel so hot even when the AC is blowing cold air. As a result, when multiple people are in a single room, that room’s ambient temperature will naturally go up.
- Don’t leave appliances on standby. It’s true that standby mode spends less energy, but “less energy” still doesn’t equal “no energy”. Turn off your dishwasher, TVs, computers, washing machine, and other household electronics when you’re not using them.
- Keep all doors closed. This will dramatically reduce heat loss by trapping heat inside each room and making it easier for the HVAC system to warm them up.
