Ten Easy Ways to Save Energy This Winter

By Elle MacKenna

Winter is a great time of year but brings with it increased costs of homeownership. Cold winds, winter snows, less sunlight all present challenges to keeping warm. But there are easy ways to help ease the cost of heating your home and keeping it running throughout the winter months.



Install a Programmable Thermostat

Typical buildings usually heat with fuel-fired appliances. Just like any other operating system start up and shut down require a lot of energy. For this reason, constant temperatures or temperatures that heat and cool gradually provide the most efficient heating.

Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to use this principle to save energy and money. Set it to cooler temperatures at night and to start heating before you wake up. Your home will be warm during waking hours and you’ll shave money off of your heating bill.

Keep Temperatures Lower

A few degrees in temperature does little for thermal comfort but can make a big difference in heating costs. For every degree you take the thermostat down you can expect about 3% savings on your fuel bill. Optimal indoor temperature is 68 degrees during waking hours and 5-8 degrees cooler while you’re sleeping. Set your programmable thermostat and forget about the 70s. Come spring you’ll still be cozy and have a warm fuzzy feeling about all the money you saved during the winter.

Reverse the Spin

Ceiling fans are great for keeping cool in summer but they are also useful during colder months. Most fans come with a tiny switch that sets the paddle direction. In summer this should be set so the lower part of the paddle goes first around the fan. This draws air up. In winter, flip the switch so the fan pushes warm air down. This helps keep living spaces comfortable and will help take a load off of the furnace.

Add a Thermal Layer to Windows


A quick, inexpensive way to seal up leaky windows is to install shrink wrap, clear plastic films. These are available at most hardware stores and easy to install. Even if you just apply this to some windows throughout your home, you will notice a difference. The plastic creates insulating air pocket while still allowing the sun in.

Less Heat to Hot Water

We tend to use more hot water in winter because we’re cold. Showers get a little longer, we use hand washing as an opportunity to warm up a bit. To take the bite out of the bigger hot water bill adjust the temperature setting of the hot water heater. You can take it down even 20 degrees and still be comfortable. Who knows, you may not even notice the difference and keep it there year round. You will however notice a savings on your bill, about 10%.

Let the Sun In

Solar gain is a challenge in summer but in winter it should be invited in. Using the heat gain from the sun’s energy can help increase thermal comfort inside the home. If you’ve got long drapes or blinds, open them up to take advantage of this free heat source – especially on the south side of your home.

Do a little Maintenance

Forced-air HVAC systems usually have a simple filter integrated in the ducts near the furnace. These should be changed every couple of months to keep the furnace clean and running efficiently. This is especially important during winter months when the furnace is already working overtime. The filters are inexpensive and readily available so buy them two at a time and mark the calendar for change dates.

Seal Your Home

Even small leaks in walls and windows can be energy black holes where your money is literally out the window. Weatherstripping and caulk are two inexpensive products that will save you money. Use them around windows, doors, chimneys and anywhere two surfaces meet to stop drafts and seal up your home. The efforts will come back in noticeable energy savings.

Replace Old Elements

If your furnace is older than your teenager it’s likely time for a new one and it best to switch it out before the cold months. Hoping the old one will get you through one more season is a short-sighted approach to savings. Look for the Energy STAR label and increase your home’s energy efficiency.

Switch Bulbs

It’s darker in winter, the days are shorter and so we use more electricity for lighting. Switch out bulbs for energy saving Energy STAR products.