Each season brings unique challenges and opportunities for homeowners to be able to save energy and increase the overall performance of their homes. Fall is an especially crucial time to be mindful of things you are doing around the house to save energy. As the warmer summer days are starting to come to a close, we thought we’d develop a blog series with ways that you can ensure you’re saving the most energy possible as you move into cooler and colder temperatures this fall.
Here are some tips that you can follow on your own to help:
- Use the heat from the sun. If you have curtains on your windows, open them on the south-facing windows of your home during the day in colder months. This will allow warm sunlight to naturally add heat to your home, reducing the need to switch on (or turn up) your heating source on nicer days. Close these curtains during the nights to reduce drafts or chills you may feel from the cold windows.
- Adjust your thermostat when you are gone. When nobody is home, heat isn’t needed nearly as much. Before you are away, lower your thermostat 10-15 degrees (that is, if you can’t get away with turning it off completely). Just this minor switch could save more than 10% on your annual heating costs. When you are home, find a good balance between comfort and minimizing energy usage. When you get your next monthly energy bill, you’ll be glad you did.
- Find and seal air leaks and cracks. Now, while it’s still warm, is the perfect time to seek out and seal those energy sucking air leaks and cracks around your doors, windows and other troublesome places. By sealing these areas with caulk or weatherstripping now, you’ll be reducing or eliminating the drag they have on your home’s energy use when the heat gets turned on in the coming days and months.
- Maintain your heating system. Before you start to use your heating system (whatever that system may be) on a daily basis, have it cleaned and inspected. Not only will this ensure that your system will run safely during the fall and winter, it will also maximize its efficiency. By having a professional inspect and/or clean your heating system, you’ll save big time.
We’ll be following up with more tips for the fall to increase your home’s efficiency shortly. Stay tuned!
