Five Ways to Save Home Heating Energy

Back in the oil crisis of the seventies, President Jimmy Carter made a big mistake. Instead of advising people to save on heating costs through better insulation methods and other simple ways to keep the heat in the house, he simply told them to turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater. This added to the downward spiraling economy at the time. 

Granted, people in Jimmy Carter’s time did not have as many options for saving energy as we have today. The technology has come a long way and now we have a whole range of affordable options to help us save on home heating while helping the environment and our economy. But the methods that worked then still work now and are still very affordable. You don’t need to install solar panels or generate electricity with your exercise bike. Here are five inexpensive ways to save heating energy that will pay for themselves within the first year.

Worship the Sun

Your windows do a great job of focusing and concentrating the sun’s energy into your home. Open the curtains during sunny days, especially those windows with southern exposure. Just letting the sun in can raise the temperature within your home by five degrees or more. Check for any trees, shrubs, or awnings that are blocking the sun’s rays from your windows and remove them.  Use slipcovers to keep the sun from fading your furniture.

Check Your Windows

When the sun passes peak warmth in the early winter afternoons, close the drapes to keep the heat inside the house. You should also be sure that the caulking around your windowpanes is in good condition. While replacing old windows is going to cost a lot, new window putty costs very little and goes a long way towards keeping the heat in your house.  

Use Your Thermostat

Replace old dial thermostats with electronic ones that let you customize the temperature. For a very small investment, you can get a thermostat that can adjust the temperature around your sleep/wake cycles and work schedules. Think about when you will be in the rooms you are programming and just put the heat on to a comfortable temperature in those rooms. The recommended room temperature is 68 degrees. The best temperature at night and in rooms you don’t often use is 55 degrees. 

Weather Stripping 

The old standby, weather stripping, is still an important part of keeping your house warm in winter. Use it around windows and doors. Check for areas in the attic and any basement doors that could use weather stripping as well. These areas are often overlooked when it comes to winterizing a home.

Check Your Heating System

The heating system itself can use some help in staying warm. Make sure your pipes are insulated and that heating ducts are wrapped with tape. Check for any holes in basement walls where pipes enter and exit the building and be sure these areas are well insulated. 

You should also have your furnace serviced even before it gets cold enough to turn it on. If you missed your opportunity to get it checked, it’s never too late. Some companies will even come out to inspect your home and offer tips on saving energy, so get your furnace checked now. If the system is not running efficiently, you could be wasting energy and throwing away hundreds in home heating costs each winter. 

By following these simple tips, you’ll be saving hundreds on the cost of heating your home without freezing yourself out of it. While wearing a sweater helps, there’s a whole lot more you can do that won’t cost you much but will help a lot!
 

Jessica Bosari is an Internet copywriter and blogger for various publications and her own blog. You can read more of Jessica's work here.