The arrival of winter weather, especially in Colorado, means powder days on the mountains, building a snowman, and the rise in your energy bill to offset the cold. Here are a few useful tips that you can implement for energy savings.
Take advantage of the sun
Sunshine is your home's friend during these colder months. Open your curtains during the day to warm your house naturally, then close them at night to keep the heat in.
Check for drafts
Drafts from either your doors or windows can be a factor in your energy bills increasing. If you notice any cold air blowing in, add weatherstripping to doors or windows or use energy efficient window coverings.
Adjust the temperature
Heating an empty house can become costly, especially during working hours. Either turn off the heat, turn it down, or use a smart thermostat that be programed from your phone. Also lowering the heat while everyone is sleeping can decrease your energy consumption.
Heating system maintenance
Check the air filters before winter starts and replace if necessary (typically replaced once a month). Dirty air filters can cause the system to work twice as hard, meaning that it will use more energy to work properly. Make sure that your system is working properly before the cooler weather sets in, as malfunctioning systems consume more energy.
Keep your fireplace damper closed
Fireplaces are notorious in letting air escape. When its not in use, keep the damper closed. If your fireplace doesn't have a damper, use doors or a gate to keep the opening closed.
Use led light bulbs
LED light bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional florescent. You can also use LED holiday lights to keep energy costs lower when you decorate.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room
This one is self-explanatory. When you are not actively using a room, turn the lights off to lower energy consumption.
Run your ceiling fans in reverse
Most ceiling fans have a clockwise and counter-clockwise mode. Clockwise mode is intended for winter use and draws cooler air upwards while pushing warm air down.
Don't block the air vents
Blocking the air vents doesn't allow the warm air to heat the room. Just make sure you don't have any furniture blocking them when you want to heat your house.