DO IT YOURSELF
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- Building an Interior Wall
- Choosing a Front Door
- Choosing Bathroom Flooring
- Energy Conservation: Heating
- How to Tile a Countertop
- Installing a Kitchen Faucet
- Installing Door Knockers
- Maintaining Your Deck
- Painting Concrete Floors
- Powered Paint Sprayer Tips
- Radiant Floor Heating
- Repairing Drywall
Energy Conservation: Heating 2011/07/15
Installing a “smart” thermostat can also help a lot. If you’re good at remembering to turn down your thermostat before work and at night, then you shouldn’t need this – it just helps automate your thermostat levels. According to the ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy), you save approximately 3% on your energy bill for every 1 degree you set back your thermostat. If you can (on average) cut your thermostat back 10 degrees each month, you’ll definitely notice the difference.
I’m sure it’s going to sound redundant, but insulate everything. Big garage doors? Install Styrofoam panels to save an easy 1-3%, depending on how often you use your garage and how it’s set up with your house. If you have a crawlspace, insulate the floor above it, even if the outside of the crawlspace is already insulated. Is there a gap at the bottom of your house’s siding where it meets the foundation? Insulate it! Stuff some fiberglass insulation into the space. Install foam padding underneath switch and plug covers to cut back on drafts; only costs around $10 and it’s just you and a screwdriver. If you can’t afford storm windows, buy plastic sheets to put over any window where you don’t need a crystal-clear view during the cold season. This will prevent drafts and also stop any annoying window rattling.
To put a cherry on top, grab a caulk gun and various types of insulation and then wait for a windy day. Light a stick of incense and hold it up to any cracks/joints/etc in the parts of your house that always seem to feel drafty. Using the line of smoke as a guide, caulk and insulate anything you find. It’s hard to quantify how much this will save you, as each house is different, but it’s a fairly simple and effective way to keep your house a little warmer.
If you’ve managed to follow all the advice in this article, your next heating bill could be as low as 1/10th what it was in previous months. If you have a house you plan on staying in for at least 3 years, or if you just happen to live in a cold place and your heating bill is eating up your paychecks, these tips will significantly decrease your bill and will make the investment of time and money very, very worthwhile.