Traditionally, people start using their central heating systems during October and switch those of mid-spring. However, this is noticeable in their energy bills. The drop in temperature causes an obvious peak in heating bills. However, with some simple tips and tricks, homeowners can start lowering their energy bills with some adjustments to their homes.
Canada’s energy consumption rates are steadily increasing. In 2015, most energy consumed (more than 40%) was petrol-derived, which is not only damaging your wallet, but also the environment. On the other hand, electric energy consumption was estimated at almost 25% in 2015. A peak in energy consumption is never beneficial.
Keep reading below to learn about some effective energy-saving strategies that will allow you to remain warm and cozy during the winter and save the environment.
Sun-generated heat is free, so make sure that you make good use of it. Instead of closing your curtains, try to leave those open and allow all the winter sun to enter your home. On the other hand, when the sun sets, close your curtains to keep the warmth in. you may not be aware of it, but curtains act like a second insulation layer, a free one, in your case. Remember to check your windows and see if there are any gaps where the warm air could escape. Plus, it will help enormously with condensation.
Experts seem to all agree that installing timers on central heating systems and programming those with 30 minutes previously to waking up, will help you save plenty of energy, in the long run. However, it’s worth mentioning the fact that this will only help you if you set a lower temperature for longer, rather than boosting the temperature for shorter intervals. This mainly happens because a boiler uses the same amount of energy, regardless of the temperature set on your thermostat. Remember not to leave your heating running while you’re away at work. This will only make your energy bills explode, while not necessarily keeping your property warm. Once again, set your boiler to start with about 30 minutes before you reach your home in the evening. In the long run, the savings will be noticeable.
Your property’s walls may be insulated, but how about attic insulation? When it comes to losing heated air, your attic is guilty of about a quarter of the heat loss. If you boost the existing insulation by 25 cm of extra insulation, you will be able to see an immense difference in your energy bills, but also in your comfort levels. Remember that insulation has to be replaced at some point, so if you haven’t intervened in this way in a while, it may be the perfect time to consider a similar project. Besides the attic, let the team of experts assess the state of the rest of your home insulation. You will be surprised to find out that the basement is another area from where heat frequently escapes. Consider insulating any crawl spaces in your basement, as well as around your window frames and door frames. The difference will be noticeable on your next energy bills.
Besides, you may want to insulate your water tanks for the winter. This will keep the water warm for longer and thus, help you reduce heating costs by almost $150 yearly.
We sometimes choose to place our favourite chair or sofa in front of the radiator, but this could be causing a spike in your energy consumption. Elements such as sofas or armchairs absorb most of the heat when placed in front of a heating source. Thus, if the layout of your living room resembles this description, it may be high time to consider relocating some of your furniture pieces. Move your sofa a convenient distance from your heating source, for instance. This will allow the heat to distribute equally throughout the room.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but turning your heating down by only one degree will help you save up to 10%. The World Health Organization previously recommended the temperature of 21 degrees Celsius as the ideal living-room temperature. However, the responsible bodies in the UK revised this temperature at 18 degrees Celsius. This temperature can be adopted efficiently by residents of other states as well.
These simple tips will help you maintain a proper indoor temperature while saving up plenty of money on energy bills. Be wise when using your thermostat, remember that a peak in temperature won’t necessarily advantage you and make everything possible to maximize your insulation, as this will help you save up to $600 yearly.
Cynthia Madison is a young blogger and economics and marketing graduate. She writes about home, lifestyle and family topics and is a frequent contributor to popular niche publications.