How to Lower Your Energy Costs During Winter

Do you ever notice your Pepco bill seems to be a bit higher in the colder months? That’s probably because you’re cranking up the heat in your home. Don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal to see a difference in expenses when comparing fall and winter to spring and summer. Just in case you were wondering about ways to lower your energy bills during the winter, read on…

1. Keep your curtains and blinds open during the day and close them at night.Naturally, during winter, temperatures are going to be warmer during the day and colder in the evening. To combat the costs of energy, keeping your curtains and blinds open during the day will allow for any sunlight to enter your home, thus keeping it warmer. Keep them closed at night to keep the heat in and the cool, brisk air out.
4. Install a smart programmable thermostatProgrammable thermostats have the built-in ability to learn your schedule over time. When you’re away from home, they can set themselves to energy-saving temperatures. You may be able to set temperatures with different phone apps while you’re away as well.
7. Clean your refrigeratorIn this case, less is more. The less items you have stockpiled in your fridge, the less energy it will take to keep those items cool. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to make it a habit of regularly cleaning your fridge to avoid any unpleasant smells creeping about.
10. Lower your water heating temperature.For those of you that enjoy the indulgence of long, hot showers, you don’t necessarily have to give that ritual up. In fact, bringing your water heater thermostat down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce the heat loss from your water heater, resulting in big savings: over 20% in energy costs per year!
13. If you own a fireplace, make sure that the wood you choose to burn is not wet. This is because it could result in excess smoke and heat loss. Nobody wants that!
15. Set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise to feel warmer.Ceiling fans don’t only keep rooms cooler. In fact, they can serve to make rooms more comfortable by pushing warm air away from the ceiling and back towards the room. You can also turn the temperature of your thermostat down a few degrees if you want to save even more money on your energy bill.
18. Clean your windows
19. Similar to closed curtains, dirty windows may clock natural sunlight from entering your home. Plus, you’ll feel better about living in a clean space!
20. Remove window air conditioning unitsThe fall and winter seasons don’t provide us with many hot days. Therefore, consider removing your window air conditioning units because they block natural sunlight and heat from entering your home. If this isn’t possible, consider caulking the edges to seal them off. This will prevent any air from creeping through.
23. Add insulation to your home.Insulation is extremely important and effective if you’re trying to keep your home warm during the colder months. Do some investigating in your home to discover where the main insulation gaps are before embarking on any lengthy projects.
26. User smart power strips for your electronics.

Are you not entertained? We mean when you’re inside your home. You may depend on your electronic devices like laptops and televisions for fun while indoors. It’s important to know that even when a device appears to be off, if it’s still plugged into an electrical outlet, it’s still using energy. Consider investing in a smart power strip which prevents appliances and electronics from using energy when they’re powered off. It’s all about keeping those energy costs down. This can help!

1. Not only can using a slow cooker help you create delicious meals for yourself and your family; it can help you save energy!

1. Use drying racks to dry your clothes.You’ve just gotten out of the shower. You’re soaking wet and a little chilly. Naturally, it would feel good to grab some freshly dried, warm clothes out of the dryer. But, using a dryer instead of dryer racks to hang dry your clothes costs more. Consider using dryer racks if you want to keep your energy costs lower.
4. Layer your clothing to keep warm.

This is a bit of a no-brainer. Putting on more clothes is going to keep you warmer. Let’s move on to the final tip!

1. Be mindful of how much energy your using when putting up your holiday decorations.

Connect all of your electronically-powered decorations to smart power strips to cut back on expenses!