Back in August we sent out a list of 14 tips for saving energy in the fall and winter seasons. While it’s always best to get a head start, it’s not too late to make your home an energy efficient one. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll be saving money too. And some of these tips might even make you more comfortable than you were before, all while using less energy.
With the weather being a bit less forgiving this time of year, you’ll probably be spending more time indoors than usual. With that in mind, we’ve written up 10 more tips for you! Spending more time at home shouldn’t have to mean spending more money on energy. So without further ado, here they are:
1. Find ENERGY STAR products
When you’re looking to replace or buy a new appliance, it can be difficult to determine amongst the many different products available which ones can help you reach your energy saving goals. That’s where ENERGY STAR comes in. ENERGY STAR is a program that certifies products as meeting government standards for energy efficiency. Not only will ENERGY STAR certifications ensure that you’re buying energy efficient products, but they can often save you money almost immediately by qualifying you for a variety of rebates. As we say at eComfort.com, it’s always best to work with an expert!
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
They are becoming ever more common, and with good reason. Did you know that compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs? Just imagine the savings! In fact, many states and countries are getting involved at a higher level by passing laws to begin phasing out incandescent bulbs. If you were to travel to Australia today, you’d be hard pressed to find an incandescent bulb anywhere you looked.
3. Low-flow showerheads
Many showerheads today are being built to save water, which will also help you reduce the energy spent heating up that water. Look into getting a low-flow showerhead that is designed to use the least amount of water necessary to provide a great shower experience. Some companies have created amazing technology based on this principle. For example, many Delta shower heads include H2OKinetic technology, which makes the outgoing water oscillate in such a way that you feel like you are being hit with more water than you actually are.
4. Get high-efficiency windows
It’s already getting a little cold to want to create huge openings in your walls by replacing your windows, but doing so might actually help you stay warmer this winter, or at least save more energy. Double pane windows have a small gap between the two glass panes filled with either air or a non-toxic gas to improve their insulating properties. Having double pane windows will help keep heat from escaping to the outdoors and even reduce noise coming in from outside. ENERGY STAR certifies the most efficient double pane windows, so look for their approval when you’re shopping.
5. Don’t use a fireplace for supplemental heating
This is a bad idea for multiple reasons. First, unless you have a newer fireplace that takes in air from the outdoors, your fireplace will need to use air from inside your home for combustion purposes. This means that you fireplace, while giving off heat from the fire, is actually taking the warm air in your home to fuel the fire and exhausting it out the chimney. This means your furnace has to work harder to replace all of this lost heat. A solution to this is using airtight doors on your fireplace, but to do this, you will need an air intake vent that opens to the outside. In addition, burning wood in a fireplace creates many gasses and particles as a result of the combustion that can enter your home if not exhausted properly, reducing your indoor air quality.
6. Manage your outdoor lighting
If you decorate your home with holiday lights during the winter season, try to use a timer and leave them on for no more than 6 hours a day. While they’re beautiful to look at, not many people can see the wonderful glow in the bright of midday or in the wee hours of the morning as they sleep, so save some extra energy by managing their on-hours effectively.
7. Change your filters!
I know, this was in the last set of tips, but it’s easy to put aside and forget. Not only will changing your filters keep your heating system running efficiently by removing any resistance to air flow, but it will improve your indoor air quality by reducing the chance that any of the particles caught in the filter sneak their way into your home.
8. Only wash full loads
Laundry and dishes are chores that most people would love to avoid if possible. Well, here’s your chance! No, don’t avoid doing them completely, but waiting until you have full loads of laundry/dishes before running your washing machine/dishwasher means less operating time for your appliances, saving you about 2-4% on energy costs. And who would have thought that waiting to do laundry could actually be a good thing?
9. Clean your refrigerator coils
Have you ever looked behind your refrigerator? No? I don’t blame you. It tends to get neglected and can be awfully dirty back there. But that’s all the more reason to investigate right now. The coils on your refrigerator that keep your food cold are easily covered with dirt, dust, and pet hair over time. This can make heat transfer more difficult, making the fridge work harder and lowering its efficiency. By taking a few minutes to clean off those coils, you can improve your refrigerator’s efficiency and reduce wasted energy. Just be careful – those coils can get very hot when the fridge is on.
10. Turn off your bathroom fan after bathing
Bathroom fans are vital for attaining great indoor air quality. However, sometimes they can work against you. While taking a hot bath or shower, you are bringing a vast amount of heat into your home. Kept it there! Don’t keep your bathroom fans on for too long after bathing, or you’ll send all of that heated air outside, rather than saving it and reducing the workload on your home’s heating system.
With these tips, you can look forward to lower heating bills, a comfortable living space, and the good feeling of saving energy. If you'd like to look at our past article on energy saving tips for the heating season, click here!
With these tips, you can look forward to lower heating bills, a comfortable living space, and the good feeling of saving energy. If you'd like to look at our past article on energy saving tips for the heating season, click here!