Keeping your home warm during the colder months, while managing your budget can be challenging. The good news is that it’s possible to save money and stay warm (and with little effort)! Thanks to our homes being built with energy-efficiency in mind, the heavy lifting is already done for you.
Below are some ways that you can make the most out of your home when it’s cold outside while keeping more of your money inside in your pockets:
Make the Most of Your Built-In Energy Efficiency
At Starlight Homes, we build with energy efficiency in mind. Our building qualities and materials are all used to help reduce energy use and costs. Below are just a few ways that we work to make sure our homebuyers get the most out of their homes:
• Tight Construction
• Fresh Air Ventilation
• Interior Moisture Management
• Right Size HVAC Equipment
Program Your Thermostat
Monitoring your thermostat during cold months is the most direct way to see more of your utility bill money remain in your pockets. Our homes are built with programmable thermostats that you can set to reduce energy usage when you are away from the home and throughout the night. According to the US Department of Energy, you can save as much as 1% for every degree that you lower the temperature during the winter months.
Check Your Vents and Reverse Your Fans
Make sure that your vents are clean and exposed. Eliminate debris and move furniture so that nothing is blocking the flow of heat through the rooms. Close vent in rooms that are not frequently used to recirculate heat into the main living areas. Replace air filters throughout the home to ensure that your HVAC continues to run efficiently.
When fans spin counterclockwise, air is moved throughout the room, cooling it. However, reversing fans to spin clockwise at their lowest speeds, however, can help lower warm air so that it can properly disperse throughout the room.
Incorporate Warmth into your Decorating
Using flannel sheets and warmer blankets will allow you to keep the temperature down a few extra degrees while you sleep. Throw blankets on the sofa and area rugs on non-carpeted floors are also great ways to decorate for warmth.
Additional Money Saving Tips
Use the natural heat from the sun by keeping your curtains open during the day to allow sunlight in and then at night keep them closed to keep the heat in. Turn down the temperature on your water heater to between 120 F to 125 F, this will burn less energy while still providing a hot shower.
Owning a home is an investment. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. Not only will these improvements help keep your utility bills manageable during the winter, but they’ll also help protect your investment in the long-run.
