How to save at least $250 on your heating bills this year
(Photo: Getty Images)
Worried about rising heat bills now that there's a chill in the air? There's plenty you can do to trim your costs if you're willing to take on a few simple home improvement projects.
It's worth it when you consider that heating accounts for about 28 percent of the average home's energy use. So even small improvements can add up to big savings.
The order you tackle projects is important. Go for the cheap and easy fixes first so that you can get the most bang for your buck and then move onto the more involved changes.
The important thing for homeowners is to think through the improvements they want to make, says Lane Burt at the Natural Resources Defense Council. These are Burt's suggestions on what to think about before heading to the hardware store:
- Concentrate first on sealing leaks and tightening up the building shell, so warm air isn't leaking out.
- Then make sure your ducts are sealed, so the heat you pay for actually gets to you.
- Then you can take a look at the efficiency of your heating system to ensure that you are keeping your home as comfortable as possible for as little money as possible.
Below is a step-by-step guide to making changes that will have an impact on your wallet. Yes, you'll need to make small investments for most of the suggestions on this list, but the payback is relatively quick and the benefits last for multiple heating seasons.
Control your thermostat
We know you've heard this before, but that's because it's fairly easy to do and makes a big difference. Your best bet is to invest in a programmable thermostat, and use it properly. Figure you'll save around $60 during the heating season every year.
Whether you choose to upgrade your thermostat or not, turn it back as much as you can when you're away or asleep. Set it at 68 to 70 degrees when you're at home or awake.
The DOE calculates about a 1 percent savings for each degree you lower your thermostat over an 8-hour period.
Additional savings:
- Close heat registers in rooms you rarely use. Just make sure the thermostat isn't in one of these rooms, says Burt. You can also add pop-up heat deflectors to direct air, according to Popular Mechanics. This should save you around $20 this winter.
Seal air leaks
Use caulk, spray foam, and/or weatherstripping to stop the air you're paying to heat from seeping out. You can find materials at any hardware store. Learn how to find leaks here.
Worried that you don't know what you're doing? Don't. It's hard to do it wrong, says Burt. When you're sealing a hole, it's going to be better when you're done than before you started, so don't hold back. Just in case, here are some instructions.
Count on saving around $80.76 a year (or $40 this winter) if you seal the large air leaks in your house.
Additional savings:
- Close the fireplace flue when it's not in use, about 14 percent of the air leaking out of a house flows through the chimney.
- Installing door sweeps will save you around $2.15 per door per month, according to Popular Mechanics. Count on saving about $10 to $12 for each door during the heating season.
Seal and insulate HVAC ducts
You'll probably want to hire a professional to handle this task, but it's worth it when you consider that you can save around $140 a year (or figure $70 this winter).
Add insulation
You don't have to insulate your whole house to reduce heat loss. Starting with your attic is relatively simple and can save you an estimated $116 a year (or $58 during the heating season). Don't forget the pull-down stairs!
Additional savings:
- Insulate switch plates and electrical outlets. Popular Mechanics suggests installing inexpensive foam electrical outlet gasket covers behind drafty switch plates and electrical outlets on exterior walls. Estimated savings: $1 to $4 per month.
- Apply plastic sheets to your windows. Inexpensive window insulation kits are available at hardware stores.
You'll save even more money if you learn the specifics about your home. The best way to find out is to conduct an energy audit. You can do this on your own, but you'll get the best results from hiring an independent contractor.
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.
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