For many homeowners, trying to keep the house warm during winter can be a challenge. Cracks around doors and windows or poor insulation can cause heat to leak from the house. This means the heating system is continually working to warm cool air and energy consumption is much higher than it needs to be.
There are many solutions to help stop this cycle of inefficient energy consumption.
Seek out an energy audit, a room-by-room assessment of your home and energy usage, to find where your home loses the most energy.
From the audit, you can address the specific issues that your house poses, such as adding insulation to your attic or sealing cracks around your foundation and duct registers.
Do system maintenance on your heating system. An annual checkup from a qualified technician can prevent minor problems from turning into major, costly expenses.
Install a programmable thermostat and set it to accommodate your household's schedule. By setting the temperature to drop 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours at a time, you can save 5 percent to 15 percent a year on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
For low-income homeowners who cannot seek out these solutions with their own financial means, local nonprofit People Working Cooperatively (PWC) provides weatherization or energy conservation services at no cost.
PWC works with homeowners in two ways: First by making their homes more energy efficient through physical changes, and then by educating the homeowner on behavioral changes, such as dialing down the thermostat or unplugging electronics. Both efforts help homeowners take control of their energy usage.
While many homeowners think of energy consumption during the winter, PWC offers its energy conservation services year round. Houses that are properly insulated perform better throughout all seasons - be it winter and snowing or summer and blazing.
Get started on improving your home's energy efficiency today. The changes you make to your home can permanently decrease your energy usage.