These Money-Saving Hacks will Keep you Warm And Comfortable!

Oh my!  Its getting cold out there!  Thankfully, This Efficient House is here with some tips about how to keep YOUR family warm and comfortable during this winter cold snap.  Of course, the most economical long term solution is to keep your home running as EFFICIENTLY as possible by making sure you have installed the most cutting-edge, high-efficiency HVAC equipment that is the proper size for your home.  Adding enough insulation and air-sealing to your crawlspace or attic doesn’t hurt either!
For those of us who aren’t rocking the latest energy efficient style, here are some tips on how to keep our homes warm and comfortable during these LONG months before spring.
First of all, you’ll want to make sure your windows and doors are sealed and as leak-proof as possible.  Be sure to check around the door frame for any leaks, and seal them up with weather-stripping or a door sweep.  Storm windows should be installed and closed in place if you have them, and regular windows should be sealed.  Consider adding window caulk or plastic to shore up leaky windows or window frames.  In a pinch, a towel or shirt can be placed around noticeable leaks to act as an excellent barrier against the cold.
Secondly, a clear, plastic shower curtain can be hung over the windows that receive sunlight.  This will serve as a barrier to keep the cold air out, while allowing the ambient heat to enter and help warm the house.  Alternatively, cover your windows in plastic sheets to create the same effect.  A heavy set of curtains will also help to block cold drafts of air.  Be sure to keep open when its sunny, and closed when its not.
Check for obstructions around the outside of your house (e.g. plants, buildings, automobiles) that might be blocking your house from the sun.  Removing as many of these obstructions as possible can help keep your house warm through the power of passive solar heat!
Sealing off unused rooms can help create a barrier between your family and the cold air outside.  Additionally, this practice will decrease the area that needs to be heated, while reducing air circulation, which can save on energy costs.  Your local hardware store sells a magnetic register that can seal off rooms from the main part of your house.  Also, make sure that cold air returns are unblocked and free of furniture or rugs so that cold air can circulate more efficiently.
Putting down a rug or a carpet can help prevent heat loss through the floor and can also provide you with a  warmer, more comfortable surfaced on which to walk.
BAKE!  Warming up the oven in your kitchen can help to heat and dehydrate the air.  Adding necessary warmth to your home AND providing you with a home-made delicacy to boot!  Avoid cooking meals that give off steam, however, as this will add humidity to the air.  Humid air FEELS much colder than dry air.
Lighting a candle or two can produce an unexpected amount of heat.  A candle heater will not generate as much heat as a heater or a fireplace, but can be a cheap and effective way to create enough heat to make you all a little more comfortable!
Incandescent light bulbs can release up to 95% of the energy they use as heat, rather than light, So while firing up some incandescent light bulbs (instead of LED or Compact fluorescent) may not be the most efficient way to LIGHT your home, it might help you save a little money on your HEATING bill this winter.
Hopefully, these tips and tricks are just the thing that you need to stay warm and healthy this winter, but if you happen to be in the  market for a more long-term solution, This Efficient House, your local, energy efficient contracting company will be happy to provide you with a home energy efficiency audit or an estimate.  We’re here if you need us!  Give us a call, and stay warm out there!