California has been having an extended summer, especially here in the San Joaquin Valley where we've been experiencing 95+ degree temperatures into October, so late last week I got ready for work and put on a sundress. To my surprise it had rained and my car--which of course was just washed the day before--was wet!
Hmm, perhaps the sundress was a poor choice?
The quick turn to real fall weather got me to thinking about the impending winter, and since my job is what it is my thoughts immediately turned to my winter energy bills and what I can do now to save this winter.
Here are 10 things you can do right now to help lower your
energy costs this winter:
1. Check Your Insulation. If you
haven‘t looked in your attic lately (or ever!) then get up there and take a
look around to make sure the insulation is in good condition. Make sure there
are enough air pockets to trap cold air. Old insulation can become brittle and
ineffective so if your insulation is not doing the job it might be worth the
time and energy to replace it.
2. Check Your Windows. You can
lose a lot of heat through the cracks around your windows and the windows
themselves. Check each window and make sure it is well sealed. You can buy kits
that will help you test this. Be sure to caulk and seal around windows where
you find leaks, and replace any interior seals that are damaged. If your
windows are old, it might be worth the money in the long run to replace them
with new triple pane replacement windows.
3. Weather Proof Your Entryways.
Along with the windows, check your doors for drafts. Using weather stripping
around the doors will help keep your heat from leaking out and the cold from
getting in.
4. Get a Ceiling Fan. Just like you learned in 4th grade - heat rises
so you want to keep the warm air down in the room, especially if you have high
ceilings. Most ceiling fans have a switch to reverse the direction so you can
use them for cooling in the summer and pushing hot air down in the winter. Be
sure you run it in the right direction or you might end up with cold air in the
winter and warm in the summer!
5. Shut Off Unused Rooms. If you
have a room or rooms that you don‘t use, keep the doors shut. Try to remember
to shut doors if you will be in the room for a long time. Rooms which are used
only sometimes will have the door fanned which allows cold air to escape into
your others rooms. This, in turn, will make your furnace work harder and
increase your heating costs.
6. Let The Sun Shine In. On sunny
days, open your curtains and mini blinds but make sure you close them when
darkness falls or on cloudy days. Getting insulated curtains can help keep out
drafts from around the windows.
7. Get A Door Alignment. Over
time, doors can sag and get out of alignment. Take a good look at your doors to
see if they still fit in the casing properly. If they don‘t then adjust them
for a tight fit.
8. Have Your Furnace Checked.
Spend the money to have a professional give your furnace a checkup to be sure
it is working at peak performance. This is important not only from a cost
perspective but also from a safety perspective. A system that is not running as
efficiently as it can cost you money in heating bills so the money to have it
inspected will be well spent.
9. Change Your Air Filter. Air filters can
get clogged with ends up costing you money in fuel - it causes your heating
system to run inefficiently and can be a safety hazard. Changing out the filter
once a year is a good idea and something you can do yourself with minimal cost.
10. Close Your House Vents. House
vents allow circulation of air during the warmer months but it’s a good idea to
close them at the end of fall before the real cold weather comes. Cold air
seeping in can drive up heating costs and make your house feel drafty. (Best not to use a cat to close the vents, but in a pinch it will work!)
Taking the time to follow a few
of these tips will result in lower heating
bills. Also, check out your energy providers’ web site for suggestions on how
to practice energy efficiency and save money at the same time.
For those in the San Joaquin Valley ere are links to PG&E, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas Company. All three sites have great suggestions on saving energy. Of course, you can always find energy and money savings tips over on our website for
VIEW the Savings!
--Dee Cox
