Staying Safe and Keeping Warm This Winter

How to keep your energy bills down during the colder months while working from home.

During these unexpected times of lockdown to help keep us safe during the Coronavirus pandemic, which has now extended into the winter months, many of us are entirely working from our homes. We’ve created a new home office space and by now have settled in. But what does this mean for our home’s utilities costs? We’re usually at our company’s offices for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, using their equipment and being comfortable thanks to their heating and cooling systems. Now, at home, there may be a tendency to keep the heat at a higher degree. (This can be especially true if our work from home tasks are mainly done while mainly sitting down at our computers – we’re not moving about and generating our own internal heat.) Well, there are a few things we can focus on to take charge our energy bills. The key phrase for this is: energy efficiency.

Making one’s home energy efficient goes a long way in reducing energy costs. We can substantially lower costs while remaining comfortable — one does not have to be sacrificed for the other. Let’s take a look at a few changes we can do that can make a big difference.

Doors, Windows, Insulation, Oh My!

As aging windows and doors are right up there at the top of the list for creating drafts and energy leaks, all of which directly affects the home’s energy bills, perhaps now is the time to upgrade to more energy efficient options. Since this type of renovation may not be on budget for many, there are other smaller tweaks that can also go along way. Now we’re talking insulation. Bumping up the home’s insulation is always a good idea. Whether it is a larger job, such as adding spray foam insulation or blow-in insulation into attic or basement cavities, or merely reinforcing the airtight seals surrounding windows and doors, all of these steps will help to stop drafts and directly reduce the home’s utility costs and bump up the home comfort level. It’s really a win-win situation.

Natural Solution.

Some other small yet mighty solutions and fixes include such things as taking advantage of natural heat – from the sun! Open curtains in south-facing windows in the morning and close them again at night. You’ll be surprised how much a room can be heated by doing this, and it’s free! The same (yet opposite) would apply in the heat of the summer — be sure those same south-facing curtains are closed during peak sunny times. This will help reduce air-conditioning costs.

Regular Maintenance and Upkeep.

Another quick and easy fix is to service your heating system. A healthy heating system that is clean and adjusted to proper settings will not only run more efficiently, it will prolong the life of the unit. The same goes for furnace filters. Changing filters regularly will improve furnace performance AND provide better air quality.

Zero Cost.

Once final tip that is extremely budget-friendly would be to close vents in rooms that are not used while you’re working from home during the daytime hours. Why heat (or cool) the whole house when you’re basically only using a couple of rooms? This may take a few tries to get into the habit, but once it becomes routine, your reduced energy bills will thank you.