Energy Efficiency Tips for your House

Winter time is a great time to make sure your house is being energy efficient. You can find out by just looking at your energy bill. If it seems more than last year but you think you have been using it just the same its most likely due to energy leaks in your home (drafty doors, windows, floors, walls, electric outlets, etc.). Here are a few low-cost to no-cost energy saving tips for your home:
 Have your furnace and gas appliances serviced annually by a qualified contractor to ensure maximum energy-efficiency and safety.

 Install a programmable thermostat and set it to automatically adjust temperatures to fit your schedule. If no one is home during the day, there’s no need to keep your house warm.

 During the day, put on your favorite sweater and set your thermostat at 65-68 degrees in the winter. For sleep hours, set the temperature at 58-60 degrees and add a cozy blanket to your bed. If you have infants or elderly or ill people in your home, you may want to keep temperatures warmer.

 Seal your ductwork to save energy and improve comfort and air quality. Leaking ducts can waste as much as 30 percent of the heat your furnace produces.

 Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans only as long as needed to vent moisture or fumes, especially in winter. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a houseful of warm air.

 Or try something as easy as these nifty draft protectors (seen in picture) for your doors.

For more great energy saving tips like these, take a look at this site:

https://www.nwnatural.com/content_yourhome.asp?id=227

Posted by Alexandra Berreth