The winter can be cold and depressing. It can be even more depressing, though, when you look at your energy bill. If you want to make sure that you get the most out of your heating unit by taking a look at these energy savings tips.
The best place to start is with lowering usage. Try using your stove less, and your microwave more – you’ll save a great deal of energy, and still have warm food. Likewise, you can start cutting your shower time in half – this saves on your hot water heating and thus will lower your bills. These may not seem like huge changes to your life, but they can actually add up quite a bit over the course of a year.
Next, start paying attention to the way you wash and dry your clothes. Washing your clothes on cold will actually save you money, as well using the energy saving features on your dryer. In fact, you can even save around thirty dollars every year by just cleaning out your lint trap – a process that might take you about twenty seconds, but will give you enough money back in the bank for at least on dinner.
Finally, the biggest change you can make is to turn down the thermostat. Every degree it is set over sixty-eight degree burns more fuel, so keep your temperature down. Also remember to keep the temperature even further down – around fifty-six degrees – when you leave your home. This can actually save you up to fifteen percent on your heating bill every year, and you won’t even notice it’s colder inside since you won’t be home.
The best energy savings tips for winter are those that require you to be smarter, rather than those that make you suffer. Make minor changes in your life, and you can enjoy the winter without having to curse at the snow. Always remember to make these small changes early on, as the savings tend to pile up over the course of the year. Once you’re through the winter, you’ll have more money – and you won’t have to deal with the cold. Make sure to check back with us for more HVAC and winter savings tips as the year goes on.
