Seal Leaks around Doors and Windows
• Add or replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows.
• Caulk gaps where necessary.
• Replace worn door stops at the bottom of doors and/or use draft dodgers.
• If you have them, install storm doors and windows. Replace old windows with energy efficient windows.
• Hang insulating window treatments and close them at night to help retain heat. Make certain they are open on sunny days for natural solar heat.
• Use caulking and weather-stripping around entry points for all pipes and ducts that travel through an exterior wall.
• Install insulating kits behind electrical outlets and switch plates that are on a wall with an exterior side.
Is the Insulation Adequate?
• Proper attic insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Ask the staff at your local home improvement center how much insulation is recommended in your area, then check your attic insulation to make sure it's adequate.
• Some homes benefit from additional wall insulation. Home improvement center staff will explain types of insulation that can be added to existing walls.
• For basements…hang insulation half-way down the inside walls. Push insulation up around the foundation on the outside walls between the floor and top layer of cinderblock. Don't forget to winterize basement windows. Check basement windows for air leaks and seal found leaks.
Heating
• Have a heating professional do a routine-check before cold weather arrives.
• Vacuum the vents and other heating components.
• If it has one, replace the furnace filter. Make future replacements as needed or directed by your furnace manufacturer.
• Consider installing a setback thermostat. It regulates the temperature, allowing the home to be cooler when you are away or asleep.
• Fill oil or propane tanks.
• Close heating vents or turn back thermostats in areas of your house that aren't used regularly, such as guest rooms, and close the doors
• Minimize the use of ventilation/exhaust fans (bathroom fans and kitchen hood fans) in the winter. A bathroom fan can suck all the heated air out of an average house in a little more than an hour, which over the course of the winter can increase your heating costs by a significant amount.
Check the Fireplace
• Have the chimney inspected and cleaned. A build-up of creosote is a fire hazard.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use to prevent heat loss.
Plumbing
• Take care of known issues with pipes that freeze. Heat tape can be used to keep them warm during extremely cold weather.
• Learn how to turn off water at its source so that you can stop leaks immediately if they start.
• Drain water from outdoor faucets when you think a hard freeze is coming to prevent burst pipes.
• Conserve heat in hot water pipes by using slip on foam insulating covers.
• Use a hot water heater cover. Turn your water heater down a notch or two.
Safety
• Install carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is a toxic deadly gas. However, as it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect.
• Test smoke alarms and replace batteries when necessary. Smoke alarms that are correctly installed and properly maintained play a critical role in the reduction of fire related deaths and injury. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire by 50 percent.
Other Energy Savings
• One CLF Light Bulb can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime. They
use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, produce about 75% less heat, so are safer to operate thus they save energy costs associated with home cooling, and they cut down on greenhouse gas emissions
• Use a toaster oven or microwave when reheating foods or for small meals. A toaster oven uses about half the energy of a conventional oven and a microwave about a third.
• Anything that is plugged in draws some electricity even when the appliance or light is not turned on. One of the biggest culprits is your cellphone charger. About 5% of the power drawn by a cell phone charger is actually used to charge your phone. The other 95% is wasted when you leave it plugged into the wall, but not into your phone. So unplug your charger when you are not using it, or plug a number of less frequently used items on a power strip and use the switch to turn it off instead of manually plugging and unplugging each item.
• Vacuum under and behind your refrigerator and freezer. This can greatly improve the efficiency of the units.
