October 15, 2024
A Few Energy-Saving Tips for Fall and Winter
At Ernest Homes, our new homes are built with state-of-the-art, energy-saving materials, and building systems to perform better, conserve energy and provide your family with more comfort.
As the cooler weather approaches, you can take a few key steps to ensure your brand-new home serves you well through the coming months. Many of these tips can be used daily to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.
Take the time to check these items and attend to anything that may need maintenance.
- Have the heating system inspected/serviced by a professional. Replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed. Dirty ducts and filters clogged with debris make your furnace work harder than it needs to heat your home.
- Turn on the heating system before it gets cold to make sure it’s operating correctly. Adjust heating registers and confirm that cold air returns are clear of furniture or draperies. If you can’t move the furniture or drapes, buy vent extenders that direct air from vents under sofas or behind drapes out into the room.
- Review fireplace operation. Have the chimney professionally cleaned. Keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
- Check for leaks around windows and doors. Seal gaps and cracks with weather-stripping and caulk. Check for air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around chimneys, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
- Turn down the water heater. Check the temperature setting to make sure it isn’t set too high. For most people, temperatures between 110 and 120 degrees are hot enough for washing dishes and bathing.
- Check the insulation. If you haven’t checked your insulation in a few years, take the time to do it now. Insulation does wear out. Over time it settles and loses the air pockets that make it effective. Adding to or replacing existing material can help make your home more efficient and comfortable year-round.
- Reverse the direction of the ceiling fans. Warm air rises, making the warmest air in the room near the ceiling. Adjust the fan to run clockwise at a low speed in the winter to draw cold air up from the floor. As it flows upward, it pushes the warm air out toward your walls and down into your living space.
- Sunlight is a natural and powerful source of energy. Open curtains on the south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill.
- Adjust the thermostat. When you are home, set it as low as is comfortable. When you are asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat down. A programmable thermostat makes it easy to set back the temperature.
- Lower lighting costs. Use smart LED lights for lamps and decorations. Use LED holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating the home for the winter holidays. When you connect them to smart home systems that automate operations, you also save money. Smart lighting can ensure you are making the most efficient use of electricity in your home.
Using these energy-saving tips can save you money and energy during the colder months. To learn more about our energy-efficient homes, just get in touch.
