I've spent the better part of my life in cold snowy climates and until today, pulling up my windshield wipers during a snow storm has never occurred to me. Rather than explore how I have managed to somehow miss this concept, I thought instead I would provide a few effective and simple home energy savings tips that may have somehow escaped some of you home owners during this chilly winter season.
1. Run your ceiling fans in reverse to push warm air back to the ground
2. Shut bathroom and kitchen fans off as quickly as possible to prevent heat loss
3. Close curtains and blinds during the night to keep warm air in and the cold air out, and open during the day to let the sunshine in
4. Weather-strip doors and windows, including those in the basement and attic
5. Keep your fireplace flue closed when not in use (glass fronts also help to prevent heat loss)
6. Keep heating vents and radiators free from obstructions (furniture/carpets/drapes will trap the heat not to mention sitting directly near a draft is going to make you feel colder)
7. Install an automatic thermostat to keep the heat at 68 during the day and 55 at night
8. Install storm doors and windows
9. Insulate your attic, outside walls, basement and any crawl or floor space (more heat is lost from basements and floors than windows and doors)
10. Dust or vacuum radiator surfaces frequently to allow the heat to escape properly
11. Have your furnace serviced (a gas furnace needs servicing every 2 years while an oil furnace should be checked yearly)
12. Seal up any cracks or openings around your fireplace, windows, the roof, pipes etc.
13. Set the temperature of your water heater to the 130 range as it takes less energy to heat and hold the water
14. Add duct tape to heating ducts where they might be exposed to cold air
15. Wrap your furnace in wall insulation or a furnace wrap (newer furnaces may not need this but if you touch the side of your furnace and it's hot...you're losing heat)
