In the Dayton area, it’s always a challenge to find ways to conserve energy and save money during the winter. Our winters are long and can be snowy, cold, and cloudy, necessitating the use of the furnace or other heating system for many months. Nevertheless, there are some steps you can take to cut energy use and save on your utility bill.
Read on for some tips on ways to conserve energy this winter in your Dayton home.
- Install a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat and cut back on energy use. Your thermostat can help you save energy. Program it to cut back on heat a few degrees in the daytime when everyone is out of the house and again at night, when everyone is sleeping. The heating can be turned on a few degrees higher in the morning when the home’s occupants get out of bed and in the afternoon and evening when they get home from school and work. Cutting back on heating and cooling by 7 to 10 degrees can cut your energy bills by as much as 10% a year.
- Air-seal your home. Take a lit incense stick and hold it next to the areas in your home where air leaks are likely: baseboards; recessed lighting; door and window frames; attic hatches; electric switch plates; and the holes in exterior walls for cables, wiring, and pipes. If the smoke wavers, you have an air leak. Seal air leaks with insulation, caulk, and weatherstripping.
- Open curtains, drapes, and blinds on sunny days and then close them at night. Let solar radiation in your home to warm things up by opening curtains, blinds, and drapes on sunny days. Close the window coverings at night to keep out the cold.
- Use space heaters for cold spots. You may have cold spots in your home. Instead of turning up the heat, use space heaters for extra warmth. The home’s occupants should also dress in layers to keep warm as one of many ways to conserve energy.
For more ways to conserve energy, contact Ace Hardware Home Services of Dayton.
