The smartest way to reduce your winter energy costs
Yes, without turning your house into a freezer.
Rather than trying to cut cold, focus on the heat sealing. The first step performs your own energy audit by identifying all gaps, cracks and holes that let the heat escape. Step Two seal it is closed. In doing so, you will reduce your monthly heating bill to 30%, depending on the researchers of the Ministry of Energy.
Start with your attic, make sure that its hatch is tight. An inch quarter space makes it possible to exit as much hot air as the heating duct of the sleeping bedroom and is easily sealed with meteorological stripping and a locking lock. Then check the drafts near the electrical outlets, switching plates, baseboards, chimney shocks, windows and doors. Windows are particularly problematic and upgrading to the ENERGY STAR-RATE variety can save you up to $ 465 a year.
Finally, scan your basement for cracks where the foundation meets the house (and seal them with an insulating spray) and upgrade your furnace and water heater. New condensation ovens are 35% more efficient than older designs and high-efficiency on-demand water heaters can shave $ 90's annual utility costs. The lowering of the temperature of your existing unit at 120 ° F will provide similar advantages.
Ryan is Associate Professor of Research at the University of Illinois Energy Resources Center.
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