Home Energy Tips to Save Money this Winter

Good old winter is just around the corner and it’s time to start thinking about what you can do to save money this season. If this cold weather season is anything like the last winter then we are in for a long cold winter. There are some really easy things you can start doing now prepare your home for the cold season that will help you save money.

Energy Efficient Curtains

Investing in energy efficient curtains can save you money through the winter months. And not just the winter months, energy-saving curtains can save you money in the summer too! You see they work in the winter by trapping in heat.

It’s really easy – in the winter when the sun is shining in the windows you just open your curtains to let the light naturally warm up the room. When the sun sets or the sun isn’t shining in the room anymore you simply close the curtains

Hang the curtains as close to the ceiling as possible and then use magnetic tape along the edges of the curtain to seal against the wall. Allowing the curtains to hang all the way to the floor creating a tight seal and trapping in the air inside the window can save you up to 25% and reduced heating losses.

Is Your Window Sealed?

Before you install your curtains check the window seal to make sure the seal is not broken. If it is broken you need to remove the old caulking and replace it with a good window seal. This will prevent hot or cold air from entering or leaving the room depending on the season. Doing this can also prevent drafts which can trick the thermostat into thinking it is colder than it actually is.

LED Lighting

If you’re in to making the holiday season bright and festive then think about switching to LED holiday bulbs. LED bulbs are great because they stay cool and take away the fire risk of traditional bulbs which get much hotter. They also save a ton on energy. When using LED bulbs don’t expect your electric bill to go up $30 or $40 over the Christmas and holiday season. That’s because LED lights use up to 90% less energy than standard incandescent holiday lights. They can be found more and more at your local holiday supply store and if they don’t carry them just check online.

Water Heater Insulation

The last time you were at a summer barbecue did you use the Koozie to keep your drink cold? Well guess what you can get the same type of Koozie for your water heater. But this Koozie will keep it warm and protected from losing excess heat. Simply adding an insulating blanket on your water heater can lower your energy bills. And don’t forget to insulate the pipes of hot water that lead from the tank. Also make sure you check the temperature of the hot water heater. It doesn’t need to be set above 120°. Anything more is just converted into wasted energy.

Energy Home Management

If you really want to get fancy with energy saving then automating your entire home is the answer. Companies like Vivint offer complete home automation which encompasses everything from managing your thermostat, lights, small appliances, and home security systems. All of these systems can be managed from a Smartphone or computer.

Home automation from a smart phone is really convenient. You can change the thermostat from anywhere in the world depending on the weather and really save some money. Remotely turning on and off lights closing our opening curtains and even monitoring children and pets is all part of home automation. Best of all automating the entire home can save you substantially on your monthly utilities bill.

Fall is at the doorstep and winter is just around the corner so if you haven’t started thinking about how to save money this winter season it’s not too late. These are just a few simple things you can do to get your home ready for winter. There are lots more tips and tricks for people looking to reduce their energy costs. Getting creative and actually seeing a difference in your energy bill can be really fun.

Author bio: Rick Delgado loves writing about both internet and personal security and the advancements provided by new technology that improve our living standards.