As the temperature drops, keeping your home cozy can send your utility bills soaring. But there are things that you can do to keep your home warm without breaking your bank account. We look at 15 clever ways to save energy and keep winter within your energy budget:
Dial It Down
When it comes to temperature, every degree counts. Lowering your thermostat by just 1 degree can save up to 3% on your heating bill. Even those sensitive to temperature changes won’t notice such a small change.
Programmable Thermostats
Investing in a programmable thermostat can go even further with energy savings. This type of thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away from home, or you’re asleep, preventing unnecessary heating.
Be Strategic
If you know you’re going to be out of the home for most of the day you should consider lowering the thermostat until you’re home. You can also lower your thermostats at night as you can always adjust it when you wake up. There will be times when you have your heating on when you don’t need it so being strategic will allow you to pay attention to when you truly need to have your heating on.
Weatherstrip Your Doors and Windows
Drafty doorways and windows mean heat will be lost, and you will use more energy trying to make your room feel comfortable. You should seal any drafty areas with weatherstripping to keep warm air in and cold air out.
Don’t Rely on Your Fireplace
While a fire is cozy, it isn’t as energy efficient as you may think. A lot of warm air is sucked up the chimney, costing you money. You should close the damper to prevent heat loss when the fireplace isn’t in use.
Layer Up
Instead of cranking up the heating, bundle up in layers of warm clothes. Think cozy socks, sweaters, and layers of shirts. A warm blanket can also make a big difference in comfort levels. Some people even choose to wear a hat in the home rather than pay extra to heat their home.
Fleece Your Feet
Cold floors can make the whole house feel chilly. Investing in slippers or cozy socks to keep your feet warm without relying solely on heating. If you’re renovating your home, think about investing in underfloor heating, as it can save money on energy bills in the long run.
Cook Smart
Utilize your oven strategically by baking multiple dishes at once or use the residual heat to stay warm after cooking. You can also opt to use the likes of pressure cookers and slow cookers that use less energy.
Defrost Wisely
Don’t waste energy defrosting food in the microwave when you can move frozen items to the refrigerator the night before to thaw naturally. On a warm day, you can even take food out of the freezer on the day you’re going to cook it, so don’t automatically use the microwave out of habit.
Use Natural Light
Instead of turning on the lights at the same time every night, wait until you absolutely need to. Keeping the lights off and the curtains open will allow natural light and warmth from the sun to keep the room light and warm.
Switch to LEDs
Replace your traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. LEDs last longer and use significantly less energy. You may spend a small amount of money installing new bulbs, but you will benefit in the long run. If you’re really short on money, you can change one bulb at a time, starting with the room with the most traffic.
Unplug Unused Electronics
Even electronics in standby mode can drain energy, so try to unplug chargers, TVs, and other appliances you’re not using. There will be some appliances that need to stay on, such as refrigerators, but you’ll be surprised at how much money you will save by switching off.
Shorten Shower Time
Long, hot showers are a luxury, but they can seriously bump up your energy bills. Try to aim for shorter than 5-10 minutes to conserve hot water usage. You may want to have a longer shower if you’re washing your hair, but day to day, a shorter one is fine.
Laundry Care
Washing clothes at a lower temperature can help save energy and with modern detergents that clean effectively in cooler temperatures mean your clothes will still be clean. You should also try to wear your clothes a couple of times rather if possible as some people wash things unnecessarily.
Draft Excluders
Use a draft excluder to keep the heat from coming into your main entry points. You can also put them on bedroom and lounge doors to keep the heat in the areas you want to keep cozy. A good trick is to light an incense stick or candle to see how much draft is coming into each room.
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When choosing a car, one of the most crucial factors is reliability. But what exactly does it mean when we say a car is reliable? Reliability refers to the vehicle’s ability to perform consistently well over time with minimal issues. A reliable car requires fewer repairs, is cost-effective to maintain, and offers peace of mind to the owner. In this article, we delve into the ten most reliable car brands according to mechanics, explaining why these brands are trusted and highlighting endorsements from institutions, car experts, and reputable websites. The 10 Most Reliable Car Brands According to Mechanics
