As the temperature outdoors begins to drop, we would like to
pass along these helpful hints to keep the inside of your home - and your
wallet - more comfortable through the winter months.
Fall/Winter Energy Saving Tips
•Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are
home and lower the temperature when you go to bed or when you are not at home.
This will ensure optimal home heating and save energy.
•For every degree you lower your thermostat you save about 2
percent off your heating bill.
•Cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent a year by
turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 percent for eight hours a day.
•Weatherize your home by caulking and weather-stripping all
doors and windows. Also use locks on your windows to make them tighter and
draft resistant.
•Insulate or increase the amount of insulation in your
attic, basement and outside walls. Also cover through-the-wall air conditioners
to prevent cold air from leaking into your home.
•Reducing air leaks could cut 10 percent from an average
household's monthly energy bill. The most common places where air escapes homes
are: floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors,
windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
•Keep shades and curtains open during the day on the south
side of your home to allow solar heating. Close them at night to retain heat.
•Don't block your radiators or heating vents with furniture
or draperies. Keep your radiators, registers and baseboard heaters dirt and
dust free. Close vents and doors in unused rooms.
•Have your heating system serviced once a year and regularly
replace furnace filters. During the heating season, change or clean furnace
filters once a month.
•Close the fireplace damper when not in use.
•Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to
save money on your energy bill. If you have children in the house, this is also
a safety measure
•Install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.
•Place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the
wall to reflect heat back into the room.
Don Ricedorff, Broker Associate, GRI, CRS, CCIM, ABR, RSPS, CDPE
E-Mail: don@durangorealproperty.com
Direct: 970-375-7014
Fax: 970-259-5007
No comments:
Post a Comment