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Energy Efficiency To Warm Your Home: 25 Tricks

crockpot

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I’m on a tear to save money on energy bills by embracing energy efficiency. I’m willing to pay a few bucks upfront to give less money to the electricity company and home heating oil company in the long run. Even if it takes a few months or even years to pay off, it’s worth it. Infolinks 2014

25 tricks for a warmer home that save money

I recently had a free energy audit and I learned there are many things you can do yourself to make your home warmer – without turning up the heat. Why not check these off your list before hiring professionals to make your home more energy efficient – and spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the process?

1. Packing tape, $3.50

If you only have 10 minutes and $3.50, grab a roll of clear packing tape and explore each nook and cranny of your home until you’ve found all the drafts. It helps to work on a windy day or a cold one. Start with windows and doors, which are the leakiest parts of your home. The trick is to smooth the line of tape over each crack. This is the heavy duty Scotch tape we have. It even works on gaping holes!

2. Window kits, $15-$20

If you want greater coverage, stock up on 3M window panels. All you need is one of these window insulation kits, a hair dryer, and I little bit of patience. The kits are about $15-20, depending on where you buy them, and include enough plastic to cover 5 large windows. If you cut the plastic sheets carefully, you may be able to cover additional windows.

3. Energy audit, free!

Sign up for a free energy audit through National Grid in MA, NY, or RI, or check with your local utility. To find a free energy audit near you, Google “free energy audit + your state.” During the audit, an inspector will look at every room in your house, from basement to attic, and give you a list of recommendations of things you can do to use less energy. Expect an audit to take 1-2 hours. Befriend the inspector, tag along as he tours your home, and ask questions about what you can do yourself to use less energy.

4. Audit freebies, free!

Aside from the thousands of dollars in rebates and credits available through federal and state programs to help pay for adding energy efficiency to your home, you may receive free products during your energy audit. We were offered free LEDs, smart power strips, and a giant brush to clean fridge coils.

5. Caulk is your friend, $5-$10

Grab your caulk gun and before it gets near freezing, shore up any leaky spots, like around window panes, mail slots, and phone and cable lines. If you want more details, read this quick PDF with illustrations from the Department of Energy.

6. Insulate pipes, $10+

Especially the ones that carry hot water from your basement into your upper floors. The water loses much of it’s heat traveling through so many feet of cold pipes! We used these pre-cut strips of pipe insulation that pop over each pipe. Did the entire basement in about 30 minutes.

7. Crockpot dinner, free!

My crockpot gives off a lot of heat and makes the house smell delicious. All that heat is a free byproduct of making dinner. Plus, you set it and forget it! I love having a hot dinner without doing much.

8. Upgrade lightbulbs, $10+

Swap out incandescents to LEDs. I got a sweet deal through my utility for 12 LEDs for $3.33 each. Search online for deals before you pay full price. Once you do, buy as many as you need and can afford. You won’t believe how much more money LEDs save compared to traditional lightbulbs (which are such electricity suckers that they don’t even sell them anymore!) If you already have CFLs, just replace them with LEDs as they break or die.

9. Tune up, $150+

Schedule your boiler or furnace for a check up. It will run more efficiently if it’s been serviced once a year. Note, your tune up may be included in the cost of your service contract, which means that if you DON’T schedule the tune up, you’re paying for something you’re not using.

10. Dust up, free

Clean the coils behind your fridge. All that dust and gunk forces your fridge to work harder. During our free energy audit, we received a free giant scrubber brush! You can also use a broom or rag.

11. Curtain call, varies

Thick curtains can block a surprising amount of cold air from making it into your living spaces. If you have thick curtains, use them to block out the cold air. Or add winter curtains to help reduce drafts around windows.

12. Hello, sunshine! (free)

Open your drapes when the sun is shining into the window, especially on the south side. This allows the sun to heat your home.

13. Filters, $15+

Clean or replace the filters in your heating system. It will use less energy with clean new filters.

14. Lift it, free

If you have a dehumidifier running, place wood blocks or another sturdy material underneath it so it is at least six inches off the ground. It won’t have to work as hard if it’s not touching the floor, saving you money on electricity.

15. Vent it, free

Move any furniture or storage in front of your heating vents, especially if you have floor vents. Remember heat rises and it can’t rise if it is blocked by your sofa.

16. Layers, free

Put on another sweater, and lower the temperature a few degrees. Keep a small blanket handy to keep you warm when you’re seated for long periods or on the couch.

17. Snuggle, free

Body heat makes a difference! Get close to that special person or pet and enjoy the free warmth!

18. Wear a hat, free

You lose a significant amount of body heat through your head. Ask my husband, who is bald! He routinely covers his noggin’ with the sheets in winter.

19. Internalize heat, free

Drink steaming cups of tea, coffee, even plain water! The heat inside you will make you feel so toasty that you may not need that second sweater! 🙂

20. Hot sack, free

Grab your sleeping back from the attic and step into it when you’re going to be at your desk or on the couch for awhile. Oh, it’s so toasty warm in there! If you don’t have a sleeping bag, check out the REI used gear sale, where prices are 40-80% off retail and are sometimes unworn!

21. Double layers, free

Pull on leggings, thin sweatpants, or yoga pants under jeans. I cannot tell you what a huge difference this makes during a cold New England winter. Alternatively, you can buy lined jeans.

22. Slippers, $15+

These are a must in any snowy climate. Socks are too expensive to wear without shoes or slippers, which can last several winters. And who likes to throw out their favorite pair of socks?! Discounters TJ Maxx and Marshall’s have a nice selection of slippers this time of year.

23. Bake it, free

Make muffins, granola, a kale chips – anything to get your oven on. The residual heat will take the pressure off your heating system. And you get something tasty out of it! I like baking in the morning as my house doesn’t warm up until the afternoon sunlight hits our bay window. I’m not going to count the cost of the baked goods as you get that to eat!

24. Fire, free

I’m assuming you’ve tracked down someone giving away firewood or have a few extra trees in your backyard you can chop down. If you’re paying for wood, then I’d love to see the math of what it costs compared to your local utility rates.

25. How do you keep your home warm for cheap?

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