Today we got snow here in Oregon, and trust me it’s freezing. This led me to think a little about winter and energy saving. Cuddling is of course an effective way to stay warm in winter but in case you’re not feeling all that cuddly, here are some other energy saving options.

• Seal gaps or cracked seams in exposed ducts.
• Clean or replace your furnace filters monthly.
• Place window shrink wrap on non-energy efficient windows. You can also hang heavy blankets up with strong nails and this will block quite a lot of the chill.
• Keep everyone gathered in a few rooms. Heat those rooms and shut the doors on rooms that no one is in.
• If you leave turn off the heat! Once you return, your heater will quickly heat back up. There’s no need to heat an empty house – NOTE unless you have pets – don’t leave them freezing.
• Lower your water heater. If you lower it to 120 F you can save money. Typically, a 10 F reduction on your water heater can save up to 5% on your heating, and no one needs their water set above 120.
• Insulate any hot water pipes that lead from your water heater.
• Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators – which is not a direct heat energy saving, but the less hot water used, the more you save.
• Don’t underestimate clothing – a nice cozy sweater means you can keep the heat down. It’s not tank top weather!

Need more winter energy tips?

Quick Energy Saving Tip – DIY Energy Audit

Green Your Home On the Cheap

Quick Green Home Tip: Turn Down the Thermostat

Green Action for Autumn – Sealing Your Home for Winter

Is it snowing and chilly where you are?

At Home Energy Saver, you enter your zip code, and what shoots out is a typical round up of energy costs in your area. For example, after I enter my zip code, it shows that the average home’s energy costs are $1395 a year, while an energy efficient home in the same area costs about $737 a year.

There’s also a graph that shows which appliances typically drain the most energy in your area.

Next there are some questions to answer – all were pretty easy, so you don’t need technical know-how for this audit. Questions like…

• Does your house have foundation or floor insulation?
• Do you have a clothes washer?
• How many freezers do you have?
• What kind of heating equipment do you have?
• And so on.

After filling out all the answers, the site will show you where you can make changes, cut costs, and save more energy. It’s a really nice site, and even if you aren’t planning on making any immediate changes, it’s cool to know your options.

Visit Home Energy Saver