- I hate visiting my friend Matt during the winter. He’s frugal (ok, a tightwad), and he keeps his house so cold during winter that it’s normal to see your breath when sitting on his sofa. Did I mention he lives in Wisconsin? Keeping his house that cold is not a pick-up trick (ie. “Maybe she’ll sit closer if that’s her only chance for survival.”), but a way my cheap accountant friend saves money. However, if you’d like to have friends over, or avoid hypothermia, there are other ways of saving energy and money when the thermostat outside drops. Here are six great ways to save money:
It’s the best money you’ll spend. The cost for a typical service call to clean the unit and change filters in both the furnace and humidifier is on average $75-$100, depending on where you live. Once cleaned, you’ll need to change the filters regularly. Upgrading to a pleated filter will do a better job of trapping airborne particulates than the cheaper spun fiberglass one. If you are considering replacing your heating system, buy the highest efficiency unit you can. The payback for the increased cost can be recovered in as little as three years and then the savings keep coming.
2. Use a Programmable Thermostat
A typical household uses the bulk of its energy for heating and cooling–up to 44 percent of the utility bill, according to the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
Outdated thermostats are the weakest link in conserving energy. On the other hand, programmable thermostats can reduce the amount of energy wasted heating a house when no one is home or everyone’s asleep.
According to the Home Energy Saver site, Energy Star programmable thermostats can save as much as 20 to 30 percent on heating costs while only costing $40-$100 initially
3. Take a Modern Approach to Lighting
Anyone who has a parent knows that you should turn off the lights when you leave a room, but there are other ways to cut back on the second biggest household energy use.
Using compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) may cost more in the check out lane, but because these bulbs use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, they are more than worth the initial cost.
Replace the five most used light bulbs in your home with CFLs and save up to $60 a year on your electric bill.
The best prices for CFLs can be found at for both individual and bulk orders, starting at $.99 per bulb (in packs of eight) or $1.69 to buy a single bulb. However, because the site utilizes a flat shipping rate of $7.90, buying in bulk will be the way to go.
4. Work with Nature
Use natural, passive methods to heat the house. During the winter, open the blinds and curtains in the morning to harness the energy of the sun and receive free heat throughout the day. Talk about solar power.
5. Strip to Save Money
Keep your clothes on (really, you’ll feel warmer without needing to touch the thermostat), but add weather stripping to your windows and doors.
It’s a project that any homeowner can do. This also has a real impact on drafts and conserving energy. Door thresholds, window caulking, and plastic window film can go a long way in saving money. If you live in a drafty home, you could save up to 20 percent with an investment of as little as $25. For an easy step-by-step guide on weather stripping,
6. Keep It Under Wraps
More than 20 percent of a tanked water heater’s energy is used while it is on “standby,” keeping the water hot for the next use. Adding a blanket of insulation around the water heater can help reduce its standby energy use, and it only takes about $20 and 20 minutes to install one.
You could also go tankless. Tankless water heaters have been around for over 75 years. Almost all of Europe heats their water with these units. Tankless units create hot water on demand so there’s no stored water needing to be continuously heated. (Think about when you’re away or asleep.) A Consumer Reports test shows that tankless units are 22 percent more energy efficient on average than the gas-fired storage-tank models, saving around $70 to $80 per year. However, because they are so much more expensive to purchase ($400–$1,000), it can take up to 22 years to break even—longer than the 20-year life of many models.
Bonus Tip: The Department of Energy (DOE) is partnering with counties, utilities, and non-profit organizations in areas across the country to test and evaluate Home Energy Scores from November 2010 through mid-2011. Through these pilots, you can find out how your home stacks up energy-wise compared to your neighbor. To find out if you live in one of the testing areas and more, check out the DOE’s site at www.eere.energy.gov. Share
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