For households across the United States, heating is the biggest home energy expense. According to the Department of Energy (DoE), 45% of the average energy bill goes toward heating.
U.S. households utilize the most energy heating their water and heating their homes, accounting for 62% of total household energy consumption. Other fuel supplies for the heat include propane, fuel oil, and electricity. Following heating, air conditioning usage is the third biggest household use of energy nationwide, followed by lighting (11%), televisions, refrigeration, dryers, and cooking.
Here are some great ways to cut down some of your home’s heating usage and expenses:
- Turn down the thermostat — Even turning down your thermostat a single degree can end up saving you a significant amount of money over the course of a year. You most likely won’t even notice a difference in comfort if you turn down your thermostat a degree or two, but you’ll certainly notice the financial savings.
- Install proper insulation — It’s imperative that your home is adequately insulated. Though having installation professionals install this material will require an initial investment, this will save you money down the line.
- Seal up any drafts — Draftiness inside the home can not only be irritating, but it can also raise heating expenses. Take a look around your home regularly and block any drafts that you notice. You can use plastic sheeting around window frames to cover windows and insulated curtains to help block out the cold air.
- Utilize solar heat — Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth — 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously. That’s more than 10,000 times the world’s total energy use. Solar heat is free and can be a great way to warm your home. Whenever you can, open your curtains and let heat from the sun’s natural light inside your home to keep it warm. At night, it’s best to close the curtains so you can block out any cold resonating from the windows.
Heating is an essential aspect of homeownership — especially over the winter. But don’t shell out more money than you need.
