With energy prices increasing, many people are looking for ways to save on heating bills this winter.
One solution: Turn off your heat when you’re away from home.
The idea that your heater works harder to heat a cold house than it does to keep a home warm is a common misconception. Your home will heat at the same rate, regardless of how cold it is inside. Considering the typical household spends $4,400 a year on utility bills, it doesn’t make sense to expend energy if you’re not home. If you plan on being away from home for an extended period, turn off your heater so you’re not paying for heat all day.
If turning the heat off all day isn’t an option, then the next best thing is to keep your thermostat setting low to cut your bills. When you are home, it’s recommended to turn your thermostat down to 68 F for eight hours a day.
Purchasing a smart thermostat is also a great solution to keeping your home at the appropriate temperature. With a smart thermostat, you’ll be able to control your home’s temperature from your phone, allowing you to schedule different temperatures for different times of the day or to shut your heat off/on whenever you want.
- Make sure your home is well insulated so it loses less heat.
- Switch to LED lightbulbs, which use 75 percent less energy than incandescent/halogen lightbulbs.
- Consider whether solar panels could be an option for your property.
- Place your thermostat where it will give you the most accurate temperature. Avoid drafty windows or direct sunlight.
- Wash your clothes in cold water, potentially cutting your energy usage in half when doing laundry.
- Wear warm clothes and use blankets to avoid turning up the heat.
(Erin Bendig is a staff writer at Kiplinger.com. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.)
