Now that much of the country is in the depths of winter, it is a great time to think about those energy saving do it yourself projects you did not have time for in the fall.
1. The first place to start is with your thermostat. Did you install a programmable thermostat? If you didn't, do it as soon as possible. If you did, now is a good time to reevaluate the programming. Take some time to really think about when everybody gets up in the morning, when they leave the house, when they get home and when they go to bed. Take the time to learn how to program the thermostat to get the most out of it.
2. Next, go around the house to each window and door and feel for the cold. You might even bring a disposable lighter with you and check for drafts. Did somebody open a window and forget to lock it tight? Is there a draft you didn't notice before or get around to sealing? Plastic film on the windows can stop drafts and adds an extra layer of insulation even if you don't have drafts.
3. Check the insulation in your attic. Often the area where the roof meets the floor of the attic (soffit) is the area most over looked. Nobody wants to crawl in that tight space but it is a common place for heat to leak up from downstairs. Then turn on the lights downstairs and leave the attic lights off, do you see any light? If you can see light, heat can see a way to escape. Always wear gloves and a mask over your mouth and nose while working with fiberglass insulation. Also, use baby powder over your body, it helps keep the glass fibers from getting in your skin. If you do get irritated from the insulation take a cold shower to wash it off and keep the fibers from getting deeper in your pores.
4. Is your hot water heater turned up too high? In our house everybody takes a shower in the morning. The first one up turns up the hot water heater and when the last person is finished the hot water heater is turned down for the next 22 hours or so. Also an insulation blanket on the hot water heater can save a lot of energy, especially if it is down in a cold basement.
5. Don't leave the bathroom fan on endlessly, as it is exhausting all that steam it is also exhausting all your heat.
6. Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible, there are detergents specifically designed for this.
7. At the hardware store, for a few dollars, you can buy little insulation pads for light switches and outlets. Go around to all your light switches and outlets that are on exterior walls and insulate them. Another trick while you have the cover off the outlets, take a pen and mark the circuit breaker number that corresponds to that switch or outlet. This will save time and headaches next time you need to shut that breaker off.
Enjoy the winter, and remember with each cold spell and snow storm how much more you will appreciate spring.
Victoria Waterhouse is a small business owner who knows there are ways to save fuel and "go green" without going broke. She is on a mission to find products and ideas that can save the average consumer money by saving energy.
http://seeenergysavings.com
http://seefuelsavings.com
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