7 Easy Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill This Winter

Winter is coming. As the snow piles rise high, so do the utility bills. Your energy bill will be at its highest during the cold winter months. The good news is that oil prices are lower than they’ve been for the last few winters. The bad news is that heating your home can still be expensive, especially if winter lasts longer than expected.

As expensive as it is to keep your home comfortable, there are ways to keep your energy bill in check while remaining comfortable. Here are seven ways to help you save money on utilities until spring comes around.

1) Turn Down the Thermometer

Moving the thermometer down a couple degrees might make the temperatures a tad less warm in the house, but the savings are well worth it. Over the course of the season, each degree means an approximate three percent savings in your energy bill — think of the amazing sweaters you can buy with that extra money.

2) Shop Around for Oil

Although heating oil prices are blessedly low for this coming winter, it still pays off to shop around for a good deal. Looking at local companies is a good idea, as is going online to check national providers. As always, read the fine print before going with a heating oil supplier so you can make the best comparisons.

3) Go Programmable

Switch to a programmable thermometer to make the most of your heating. With such a device, you can automatically make the temperature cooler at night and when you’re away at work. After all, it’s easy to forget to do this on your own. If you have central air conditioning, this can also be used in the summer time with your air conditioning.

The programmable thermometer will pay for itself in no time. Check Energy.gov for more information about the devices.

4) Clean Up

Over time, both your refrigerator coil and furnace filter become dirty and less efficient. By cleaning them out regularly, you’ll increase efficiency and save money. Cleaning the refrigerator coil requires a little work but isn’t too difficult. Cleaning the furnace filter can net you savings of up to 15 percent and also isn’t too challenging if you follow instructions.

5) Insulate

If your home feels drafty, odds are you’re wasting a lot of heat. There are extensive winterizing procedures that can be completed by professionals, but there are also some easy fixes you can do yourself. For starters, use caulk to fill any gaps that you feel drafts coming through. Replacing windows might be the best thing to do, but a cheaper alternative is to look for some DIY window insulator kits that can help you save some money.

6) Unplug When Possible

More and more modern appliances drain energy even when not in use. It’s an annoying trend that doesn’t seem to be improving, as it’s estimating that these appliances on standby add 10 percent to the average electricity bill.

To solve this, you’ll want to unplug your appliances when possible. Get a power strip and switch off any appliances when they’re not in use.

7) Switch the Light Bulbs

Switching to more energy efficient light bulbs is a good idea year-round, so why not get to it sooner rather than later? The U.S. government estimates that energy efficient light bulbs require 25 percent to 80 percent less energy than their old-fashioned predecessors. Making it an even better deal is the fact that they last at least three times longer than the older bulbs. The energy efficient bulbs cost more up front but are well worth the estimate.