Home Energy Saving Tips
Winter is ending here in Colorado (despite today’s snow storm!) and we’ve got some not-so-obvious tips on how to conserve energy and save money while the weather is warming up and once it’s hot out again. Â If you have any questions or are interested in something mentioned below, give us a call at 303-757-5661.
For when it’s still cold out:
- Limit the loss of expensive heated air to the outside. Use fans sparingly. In just one hour, these fans can blow away a house full of warm air.
- Keep fireplace dampers tightly closed until you prepare to light a fire. An open damper in a 48-inch square fireplace can let as much as 8% of our heat escape out the chimney.
- Lower your thermostat to about 65 degrees F during the day and 60 degrees F at night. For each degree you turn down your thermostat, you’ll save 3% on heating bills.
- When using the fireplace, open dampers in the bottom of the firebox if provided, or open the closet window about 1 inch and close the doors leading into the room. This allows more air for the fire without reducing heat loss.
- Make a draft detector by clipping a piece of tissue paper to a coat hanger. Hold the coat hanger in front of a suspected crack; any movement indicates a leak in need of caulking or weather stripping.
- Avoid heating unused areas by closing off unoccupied rooms and shutting off heat vents. (Does not apply if you have a heat pump)
- Learn about R values before you buy your insulation materials. These numbers indicate resistance of an insulation material to winter heat loss or summer heat gain.
- Consider installing storm windows and doors. Storm windows can be both energy efficient and convenient. Good windows can result in cost savings of as much as 15% a year.
- Consider the advantages of a setback or clock thermostat for your heating system. The clock thermostat will turn the heat down automatically at a regular hour before you retire and turn it up again before you wake
For when it heats up:
- Close windows and doors during hot days and open them at night.
- Close drapes and shades during hot days.
- Reduce use of oven, incandescent lights and appliances that generate heat.
- To stay cool, use ceiling fans to cool individual rooms.
- To stay cool, consider installing a whole house fan in the attic.
- Get a timer for air conditioners so they can be off all day and turned on before you get home.
- Time for a new color? Use light colors when painting the house and trim.
- Stay cool by planting shade trees on the sunny side of the house.