Many people are in for a shock when they open their gas or electric bill after the first cold spell of winter. They take a look at the sky-high heating costs and wonder to themselves: How can I bring these expenses down? How can I keep my house warm this winter without paying exorbitantly to do so?
Perhaps the best way to address these questions is by becoming more environmentally-friendly when it comes to your utilities. Going green, after call, is a great way to help the planet while saving yourself some money in the process. So how can you go green this winter? Here are a few tips:
Get Energy Efficient Bulbs
Although more expensive upfront, energy-efficient light bulbs can help you more than recoup those costs after a winter’s worth of use. They also use less energy to emit the same amount of light, thereby allowing you to consume sufficient electricity in a green-friendly manner.
Dim the Lights
Some people will go a step further on the lighting front by regularly dimming the lights in their home. This can, over time, help save on your bills and your energy consumption. If you don’t like the idea of having rooms that are less well-lit, you may want to consider chinese lanterns or other types of lights that go well with a dimmer ambiance.
Insulate Your Home
Insulating your home can drastically improve your energy efficiency during the winter, especially if you live in an older house. You can do this by sealing your windows and by adding insulation to the attic. Since a disproportionate amount of heat will leave your home through the roof, adding even a cheap bed of insulation on your attic floor can be an easy way to boost efficiency.
Get a Smart Thermostat
Worlds apart from the traditional variety, a “smart” thermostat is capable of constantly adjusting your home’s temperature in order to provide the maximum comfort at the most cost and energy-efficient level. It does this by sensing motion in the home and learning habitation patterns. While a smart thermostat will cost you more up front, like an energy efficient light bulb it should insure that you recoup those expenses over the course of the winter season.
These are just a few of the many ways you can work to go green on your utilities bill this winter. Doing so is not simply a great way to reduce your carbon footprint – it also, as demonstrated above, can help save you money in the process.
