Winter and cold season in general, in many parts of the world means higher heating bills and extra expenses but there are simple ways to keep warm without spending more money. In this article, 7 highly efficient and recommended tips are shared and are guaranteed to reduce your energy costs.
Seal Air Leaks
Check your windows and doors for leaks. Use caulk to seal windows if necessary. Use pillows to help seal the bottoms of doors that lead directly to outside. Putting a cheap shower curtain across a window helps warm your house and wards off some cold. Your attic may also need more insulation, which is important because hot air rises and this explains the reason your downstairs is usually colder than the rooms upstairs so heat generated in the house would continue to ascend and if your attic is poorly insulated, this results in significant heat loss because you wouldn’t want precious hot air going toward an attic no one uses.
Plan Ahead
Use budgeting plans offered by your gas and electric companies. Payments are more evenly distributed through the year rather than spiking in the winter and catching you off guard. Different companies also offer various energy plans and you may be entitled to more energy discounts with direct debits and other forms of payment plan.
Barter
Trade with your friends and neighbors for items you need. For example, trade your crocheted place mats for wood, a wood stove or fireplace. Some websites such as Freecycle also have items for free. Check there for goodies such as heaters, wood and candles.
Consolidate Rooms or Close off Rooms you don’t Need
If you don’t use a room much, or can combine the functions of two rooms into one (for example, share a bedroom with someone or adapt your living room into a bedroom), close an unnecessary room off for winter. At the very least, turn off heating vents in that room. This means heat in your home will circulate faster, as the heat won’t be spread apart as much.
Thick, Layered Clothing
Put your winter wear to good use by layering. Bundle up in several shirts, sweaters and a jacket. At a minimum, wear a pair of thick socks (or two pairs). Thermal underwear, scarves, a hat and gloves also go a long way. Put a blanket over your head if you need to.
Heat Sources
Plenty of items can help heat you on the spot. An obvious one is a heater, but incandescent light bulbs also give off lots of heat compared with other bulbs. Even exercising gets you through cold spells. Keep as active as possible. A hair dryer is excellent for spot warming, and a candle can give off surprising amounts of heat. Put several candles close together for maximum effect, although keep an eye on potential dangers, such as pets knocking off candles. A hot water bottle—and an electric blanket—can also warm your bed and body. Use your oven for cooking. Not only does that save money because you’re not eating out, the oven gives off lots of heat. Be sure to have your boiler checked out before winter sets in; you could end up saving hundreds of dollars if your boiler would have gone bad.
Maximize Sun Exposure
If you have furniture or items blocking windows, remove them during the day to let in maximum sunlight. (At night, you may want to return them to their original positions to keep some cold out.)
There are loads of advice that have been given to help combat cold and generate heat at a less cost and while some have been popularly spread, not all are effective so the ultimate advise is to stick to what works.
This article was written by Sandra Mendelson who has worked in various capacities as planning and finance advisor for major energy organizations. Outside her work, she also blogs about life and more general topics and recommends that you visit listabuzz.com to read some of her contributions.