{"id":5268,"date":"2021-11-08T10:35:37","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=5268"},"modified":"2021-11-08T10:35:38","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:35:38","slug":"how-to-save-energy-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/how-to-save-energy-in-winter","title":{"rendered":"How to Save Energy in Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dark and dreary winters can often lead to higher energy costs as families try to make their living environments more enjoyable. Common culprits include lights flipped on all day to accommodate fewer daylight hours and increased use of the heater, thanks to freezing temperatures. Energy expenses also build up with seemingly small gestures like humidifiers, running taps, and hot water heater usage as you try to find the perfect way to defrost when winter blues take hold. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to lower your energy costs, which means big winter savings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Follow the Day’s Natural Rhythm<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though sunlight won’t quite warm you up in wintertime like\nit does in summer (or like your heater will), it helps. When waking up, be sure\nto open your drapes so that the sun can filter in naturally and warm the space,\neven if just in the slightest. When the sun goes down and the day grows colder,\nbe sure to close your drapes to create an additional barrier to protect against\nthe winter weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weatherproof Your Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following the last tip, be sure to use weatherproof features\nwhere possible. This can be something as simple as buying special drapes or thicker\ncurtains that are designed to shield your home from the elements. It can also\nmean sealing up trims around the exterior that are allowing additional cold air\nto flood the home. For example, if your door does not lie flush with the frame\nwhen closed, a tremendous amount of cold air can enter the space. Check out all\nwindows and doors, especially in unused rooms where cold air could seep in\nwithout notice. Properly weatherizing your home can ensure that any efforts you\nuse to warm up stay\nwithin the walls of your home while adverse weather stays out<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider Upgrading to a Smart Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Smart home technology may seem counterintuitive when viewing\ncost-effectiveness at the surface level. However, the addition can make a major\ndifference in the long run. Smart home technology can detect and adjust things\nlike temperatures and lighting to optimize energy usage in your home. A major\nbenefit of smart home tech is that it can auto-adjust when you are away and\nadjust again upon return. Depending on the manufacturer, you may also be able\nto control the system from your phone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Layer Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one may seem like an obvious solution, but it’s\nsurprising how many people do not choose to layer themselves as the first mode\nfor warming up. Taking some time to throw on a sweater and a pair of socks may\nbe just what you need to negate your thermostat on some days. You may even\nencourage family bonding by squishing together on the couch for movie night or\nswaying your pets to snuggle up. Extra body heat is a great way to find some\ncomfort on the coldest of days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Energy Efficient Appliances & Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it may seem like the best option for lowering energy\ncosts is to simply keep lights off, it’s not always possible. When in use, it’s\nimportant that you have the best energy-efficient tech. Consider overhauling\nyour lighting and appliances for ones that rank highly according to ENERGY\nSTAR. Energy-efficient bulbs and appliances will help to lower your energy\nbills, even if rarely in use. To take it a step further, opt for LED bulbs. Replacing\nyour light bulbs with energy-efficient options can equate to $50 savings\nover the course of the light bulb’s life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose a Localized Heat Option<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to warming up, sometimes an energy-fueled source is necessary. Choosing to use smaller methods to warm up rather than using the thermostat<\/a> for the entire home 24\/7 can mean thousands of dollars in savings every winter season<\/a>. Rather than warming up the entire house with the HVAC system, make a fire in the living room and huddle around it. Consider purchasing a heating blanket and space heater for bedrooms at night. These heating methods may not make the entire home toasty, but they’re affordable solutions that warm on a small scale. Take extra care to follow the directions for safe usage of small heating sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work Your Way Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This tip is perfect for tying up all your options for saving\nmoney during winter. If you’re looking to save money, it’s important that you\nwork your way up in solutions rather than diving full-fledged into expensive\nones. While it’s important that you’re comfortable during the winter months, affordability\nshould not go out the window. Try to implement energy-saving tips on the\nsmallest scales (meaning least expensive) and weigh it against the comfort\nlevel of your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small Steps Have Big Rewards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keeping warm during winter can be costly but, luckily, there\nare multiple ways to maximize efficiency and, in turn, lower costs. Whether it\nbe small changes or drastic overhauls, every bit will help to make winter more\naffordable. Any of these tips can be modified and adjusted to fit your specific\nneeds! Over time, you will learn what works best based on the size of the home,\nnumber of occupants, and your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more tips on saving energy year-round, check out\nEnergy.gov’s ultimate\nguide<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dark and dreary winters can often lead to higher energy costs as families try to make their living environments more enjoyable. Common culprits include lights flipped on all day to accommodate fewer daylight hours and increased use of the heater, thanks to freezing temperatures. Energy expenses also build up with seemingly small gestures like humidifiers, … Continue reading How to Save Energy in Winter<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[602,774,419],"tags":[430,59,3896],"yst_prominent_words":[5297,5427,1241,5426,2001,4749,5430,3312,546,1995,4559,5429,2145,1993,1990,1991,1083,2098,3772,2866],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5268"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5268"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5270,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5268\/revisions\/5270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5268"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}