- Insulate, insulate, insulate! No matter what you heat source is, a properly insulated house keeps the warmth in, and the cold outside.
- Stop cold drafts coming in through windows and doors. Air infiltration can contribute a large percentage of energy (heat) loss. If you cannot afford new windows, even a thin layer of clear plastic (the kind you adhere to the window frame and sill, then tighten with a hair dryer), can dramatically help slow down drafts.
- Weatherstripping around the windows and doors, a cheap solution to keep the cold out.
- Wrap heating ducts and make sure that the joints in the heating ducts are in tact.
- Replace your air filters for your furnace.
- Have you ducts cleaned. Tons of dust and other foreign objects make their way in there
- In you have zone heating, i.e. radiant panels, baseboard, etc., heat only the rooms that you are occupying. Keep the unoccupied rooms at a lower temperature.
- Install a programmable thermostat! An inexpensive way to save money on your heating bills as the heat comes on and cools down at certain times during the day.
- Install window coverings and blinds that are designed to save energy. Very useful at night and during the day when your house is unoccupied.
- Dress for cold weather! Keeping your feet warm with comfortable pair of slippers, esp. in the morning, really takes the chill off!
Merry Christmas!
