Heating

The holiday chill is in the air, but there are ways to warm your home without seeing a spike in your electricity bill. Did you know in the winter months, it’s best to set your thermostat to 70° F or lower? Each degree above 70° F can increase your heating costs by as much as 3-5% per degree.

Lower your thermostat and let your heater have a cool down

• Lower your thermostat a few degrees if you are expecting a lot of visitors because a crowd can quickly heat up the room.
• Snuggle up to a hot water bottle to give you the extra warmth at night.
• Let a programmable thermostat help you lower your home energy bill by automatically adjusting the temperature based on a schedule you set. Proper use could reduce heating and cooling costs by $100 a year, on average.

Take advantage of the winter sunlight to add warmth to your house

• Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill.
• Place a dark rug in sunny areas of your house during the day to absorb the sun's heat.
• Consider installing tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that still feel drafty after weatherizing.

 Help lower your winter costs by using your fireplace efficiently

• Build a fire in your fireplace and close the chimney flue when you're done, so heated air won't escape.
• Open dampers in the bottom of the firebox or open the nearest window slightly (about one inch) and close doors leading into the room (lowering your thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F).
• Invest in c-shaped metal tube grates, which draw cool air into the fireplace and circulate warm air into the room.