Make your home energy efficient [get ready for winter]

Winter in cold states like Minnesota can be costly for homeowners and for renters whose utilities aren’t included in rent. Therefore, it’s important to conserve energy in your home or apartment to save money. Keep reading for tips on how to reduce energy waste and lower your utility bills as much as possible.

Find the trouble spots

First, determine where you’re using energy and where savings might be possible. If you want help with this, one option is to get a professional home energy audit done, which may be free or low-cost through your utility company. Also, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has information on reputable individuals and companies who perform audits. Check with your state or local energy or weatherization office for contacts and recommendations.

You can also do the assessment on your own. Here’s how:

• Hold a lit candle or incense stick near windows and doors to test for air leaks. The moving flame or smoke will tell you where the leaks are.
• Check around ceilings, lighting and plumbing fixtures, switches and electrical outlets. Look for gaps, improperly applied caulk and weather stripping, as well as doors and windows that don’t close completely.
• Lastly, check the seams in duct work to see if any heat is being lost when it makes its way around the house.

Keep in the heat

Once you locate the problem areas, it’s time to seal the leaks. Energy.gov provides the following tips on sealing windows and doors, as well as other do-it-yourself energy conservation projects:

• Weather strip doors and windows.
• If the leak is under the door, put in a draft snake, which is a fabric tube that you can place at the bottom of the door to block cold air from coming in underneath. You can purchase one from most discount stores.
• Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring comes through walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets.
• Install foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on walls.
• Use foam sealant on larger gaps around window trims, baseboards, and other places where air might leak out.
• Check for open fireplace dampers, and make sure they close properly.
• Install tight-fitting window treatments, and look into purchasing thermal curtains for additional help in keeping the warmth in and the cold out. Thermal curtains are available almost everywhere curtains are sold. 
• Open your curtains on sunny winter days to use less energy heating your home. Close them at night to protect against cold drafts.
• Consider adding insulation to your walls, attic, roof and foundation. A well-insulated home is crucial for reducing the heat flow in and out of your house. The DOE’s website and the Federal Trade Commission have information on types of insulation, tips on adding insulation, and recommendations on where to add insulation.
• If you need even more assistance, YouTube also has a plethora of free how-to videos for any and all of the above. 

Use less energy heating your home

Not only can you reduce the amount of heat leaving your home, you can also use the following tips to cut your use of heat, saving you money.

• Switch to reverse: If you have ceiling fans, set them to reverse. Heat rises; therefore, you can push that warm air back down simply by flipping a switch on your ceiling fans. Run the fan on the lowest speed to move the air down slowly. 
• Maintain your furnace: Keep your furnace tuned up and cleaned to keep it running as efficiently as possible. Be sure to replace the furnace filter once a month or as recommended. A clogged filter can make furnaces work significantly harder.
• Keep the rest of your heating system clean: Clean registers, baseboard heaters and/or radiators as needed. Make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting or curtains.
• Get a programmable thermostat: One of the simplest ways to cut heating costs is to turn down the thermostat when you’re not home. This can sometimes be hard to remember with everything else we have to do during the average day. Therefore, think about installing a programmable thermostat that you can set to reduce the temperature automatically when you’re gone during the day or sleeping at night. You can also set it so that it’s warm by the time you get home or wake up in the morning.
• Dress accordingly and be cozy: Wearing warm, cozy clothes and using a blanket while you’re home allows you to turn down the heat a little bit, while remaining comfortable. Each degree that you turn down your thermostat will generate 1% in energy savings, according to the DOE.
• Reduce water heating costs: According to the DOE’s energy saver guide, water is the second largest home energy expense — typically around 13% of your energy consumption. This guide suggests several ways to cut water heating costs: 1) Insulate your water heater tank and hot water pipes leading from it. 2) Set your water heater temperature to 120ºF, a temperature considered safe for most of the population. 3) Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.

If you are looking to make your home energy efficient and less costly, be sure to utilize some or all of the tips above. Remember, every little bit helps! 

Keep your finances efficient

LSS Financial Counseling is here to assist you in making your finances as efficient as possible. We provide free guidance and support so you can improve credit, purchase a home, pay off debt and/or just create a realistic budget. Call us at 888.577.2227 to schedule a free financial counseling appointment, email us, or get started by creating a financial profile online.

Author Elaina Johannessen is the program director for Debt Management Plan operations with LSS Financial Counseling.