Concerned About Raising Utilities Costs This Winter? 4 Steps to Prevent Energy Waste
Currently, the world uses over 140,000 Terra watts of power in a single year. This number is much higher than in 2000 when the figure was 112,000 Terra watts of usage between natural gas, coal, water, and other power sources. Each year, the costs of heating and cooling homes and businesses go up. We look at four ways you can decrease your utility bills and save energy this year.
Add weather stripping
Putting pieces of weather stripping along the windows and doors of your home is an excellent way to prevent heat from seeping out around the openings.
This material is easy to apply. Most weatherstripping comes in a roll or pre-cut pieces that you peel and stick to the area you want to insulate.
The material blocks drafts and helps you keep too cold or hot air outside.
Have someone check the roof insulation
While this task is not a yearly requirement, it is a good idea to have someone inspect your attic insulation once in a while.
A roof insulation service can come in and check to see if you have enough insulation, whether you have drafts, and how effective the protection you have is for your home.
If you need more insulation or a different material, the specialists can recommend a refit for your home.
Install a smart thermostat
Smart technologies are useful for tracking home occupancy times, dates, and other statistics to help you find ways to conserve energy.
For example, when homeowners leave for work, the thermostat learns to lower the temperature and raise it when occupants come back.
These tools can lower the temperature at night when people are usually in bed to cut costs even further.
Upgrade to windows with Low-E glass
Low-E windows offer a variety of protections and benefits. These windows block out harmful ultraviolet rays to protect furnishings and minimize heating up the home.
The coatings can reduce the energy one loses through the windows by as much as half.
The coating works both ways. It protects homes from heating up too much in the summer while keeping the heat in the house during the winter.
Saving energy on home heating costs is not as expensive as one might think. Little changes can make a big impact.
Using door sweeps is an easy way to block out drafts. The weatherstripping will eliminate this issue in older homes and areas where the wind penetrates easily.
Category: Save Energy
