Winter Efficiency Tips from HomeStyling Design
November 25, 2014
As the days get colder and darker, it’s all too simple to crank up the thermostat and wait out winter. Heating and lighting bills are expected to increase in the winter months, and there are some simple ways you can alleviate outrageous payments and help conserve energy.
Follow our HomeStyling Design tips to promote winter efficiency in your home:
- Turn off the lights. This may seem obvious, but all those extra holiday lights adorning your yard are easy to forget about. Turn off all Christmas lights before bed to save energy throughout the night. Often times, lights that are left on all night end up staying on when the sun comes up and throughout the day. The same goes for lights on the Christmas tree or around the house—make it part of your bedtime routine to shut everything off! Click here for a handy tool to calculate holiday light energy costs.
- Switch bulbs. A recent news release by Duke Energy indicates the cost efficiency of LED versus incandescent light bulbs. Six 100-bulb sets of large, incandescent bulbs plugged in for six hours every night can add up to $80 on a monthly power bill. In contrast, the same amount of light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs would add only about $7 to a monthly power bill, while mini versions would only add about $1.
- Make the most of the sun. Leave your blinds open during peak daytime hours to take advantage of precious sunny moments. Soak up as much natural light and heat as possible by allowing the sun’s rays inside.
- Check air filters and heating system. Dirty air filters and un-maintained heating will use up more energy than those that are properly maintained. Change air filters regularly and have your heating system checked by a technician to ensure proper operation.
- Use candles. Alternative forms of lighting, such as your television set or candles, will set the mood and save you bucks. Scented candles will fill your house with holiday smells while also providing free light—win-win! Just make sure to blow them out when you leave the room.