Wintertime - go green and save tips

When old man winter comes knocking at our door,  as he most certainly has today, I start to think about keepping warm.  Inevitably, I want that to be as cost effective as possible but also as environmentally friendly as possible.  Thankfully staying warm and green on those long, winter nights without seeing your monthly bills skyrocket as the temperature falls in not out of the question.

A good place to start is checking for drafts coming from the doors and windows. Look to see if the caulking or weather stripping is damaged. If it is damaged or even destroyed, replace it immediately.

When replacing old weather stripping or caulking, it is important to remove it thoroughly before placing the new materials onto your windows and doors.

Another good tip for preventing drafts from your windows is to hang thick curtains, preferably lined ones.  Draw the curtains closed during the evening and night hours. Open them to the warmth of the sun during the daytime hours.

Additionally, you can also invest in a draft excluder for the bottom of your door to prevent drafts from entering your home. Ideally, you should follow this strategy at night when the air is typically at its coldest and the draft excluder will be less of an inconvenience.

If ther draft is really bad you may consider replacing old, outdated windows and doors. Replacing energy-inefficient windows and doors with energy-efficient windows and doors will save on heating costs. Plus, they should not require annual bouts of caulking and weather stripping.

Although this type of home improvement can be expensive, most home improvement stores offer sales throughout the year - with the downturn in construction there are some really good deals to be made at the moment. In addition, discontinued styles are often sold at cost or close to cost just so the manufacturer can make room for new merchandise. This type of home improvement can raise the market value of your home, while also lowering your utility bills at the same time.

Another money-saving strategy for the winter is to purchase and install programmable thermostats in each room where it is possible to do so. Programmable thermostats can help to reduce the cost of heating your home. They can be set to lower the temperature during the times throughout the day and evening when you do not need the heat. This strategy saves on energy use and cost.

Another money-saving strategy is to replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. If you simply cannot do away with all of your incandescent bulbs, replace the ones that you can afford to replace. Fluorescent bulbs use less energy, and this fact can be particularly important in the winter months when lights are needed more frequently.

Finally, if at any time you intend to replace any of your appliances, purchase replacements that feature the Energy Star® logo. They really do use less energy and save you money in the process. During peak periods of winter energy use, you will be glad that you replaced your old, outdated hot water heater, furnace, or oven with an energy-efficient model.

It is important to follow as many of the above strategies as you can in order to exercise winter energy conservation. After all, what is the point of staying indoors if you can’t snuggle up?

source: www.eco-wisdom.com