5 Energy Saving Tips For Winter

For Las Vegas things start getting cold right after Halloween, lucky us. I was recently contacted by a Home Depot associate and asked to relay the following energy saving quick tips for the winter. They cover some of the most common areas for improving the efficiency of a home. I’ve done some expansion with what I hope are some useful links. In addition, Home Depot has an energy saving podcasts series. Hope they help.

1. Regularly maintain your furnace and water heater. Regular maintenance on your furnace and water heater will increase energy efficiency in your home. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling, and reduce environmental emissions, from 20 percent to 50 percent. Regular maintenance will help make these investments in your home last longer and be more energy efficient.
   • The DIY Network has a pretty good article on water heater maintenance.
   • If your in the market to purchase a new water heater and your not sure if you need a larger unit, GE has a water heater capacity calculator.
   • This HowStuffWorks article on furnace maintenance covers furnace basics, cleaning, lubricating the motor and changing a belt.
2. Install a programmable thermostat. You can save up to $180 a year by installing a programmable thermostat that controls the temperature of your home while you’re at work or asleep.
3. Seal your home from heat and cold. Allowing air to escape through gaps and cracks is like throwing your money away. By sealing your home like caulk, sealant and weather-stripping, you can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
• Insulating outlet boxes with spray foam
• Inexpensively sealing a drafty fireplace
• Sealing exterior wall gaps with expandable foam
4. Install insulation. According to the Department of Energy, the leading cause of energy waste in the home is inadequate insulation and air leakage. Homeowners typically can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent by sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and accessible basement rim joists.
• Not sure what are the suggested R ratings for your area? The EPA has a page that will help you figure it out.
• If your not sure about what R value is or need to figure out the R rating of your current insulation, Oakridge National Lab has a great insulation guide.
5. Update your windows. ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can reduce your energy costs by $126-$465 per year when replacing single-pane windows or $27-$111 a year when replacing double-pane, clear glass windows. For a quick fix, add heat control window film to your windows and save up to 50 percent on your cooling costs.