Energy Planning Consultants, Inc.

Hot Winter Tips

Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home - Hot Winter Tips


You can save 10% or more on your energy bill by reducing the air leaks in your home. Test your home for air leaks. On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to the common sources of air leaks shown below. If the smoke travels horizontally, you have found an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weatherstripping. Pay particular attention to air leaks at doors, windows, and places where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets. For a more accurate measurement of air leakage, hire a technician to conduct a blower door test in your home.

Dropped ceiling
Recessed light
Attic entrance
Sill plates

Water and furnace flues
All ducts
Door frames
Chimney flashing

Window frames
Electrical outlets and switches
Plumbing and utilities

Windows add to the ambiance of the home but they can waste a lot of energy.

Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of your window frames if drafts, water condensation, and frost are present.
Install tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Long-Term Savings Tip — Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with double-pane windows with low-e coating. Look for the Energy Star^®.

Image of double-paned window with low-emissivity coating reflecting heat back into the inside of the home.

Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect heat back into the room during winter months.

Insulation will reduce your energy bills year-round.

Insulate your hot water heater and hot water pipes. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or get professional help.
Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
For insulation levels specific to your location, visit the DOE Zip-Code Insulation Program.

Long-Term Savings Tip — One of the more cost effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation in the attic.

Installing a programmable thermostat is an excellent way to cut your heating bills.

A programmable thermostat can be pre-set to lower the temperature when you're sleeping or at work. The energy savings will offset the cost of a basic unit in less than a year.
Lower your thermostat from 72° to 65° for eight hours a day to save up to 10% on your heating bill.
Regularly clean or replace furnace air filters, follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, and don't block the registers.

Long-Term Savings Tip — Install a new energy-efficient furnace to save money over the long term. Look for the Energy Star^®.

Pie chart showing energy use in homes. Heating and cooling=44%; lighting, cooking, and other appliances=33%; water heating=14%; refrigerator=9%.

Heating and cooling are a big part of a typical home's energy expenses.

Even though you can't see them, your ducts may be wasting money.

Check your ducts for air leaks. First look for sections that have separated and then look for obvious holes.
Insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost effective.
Ducts are a hidden savings opportunity. See Improving the Efficiency of Your Duct System for more information.

Long-Term Savings Tip — You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts aren't insulated and they travel through unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace. Get a qualified professional to help you insulate and repair ducts.

Unsealed and uninsulated ducts leaking heat into the attic.

Unsealed and uninsulated ducts lose heat, wasting energy and money.

Energy Savers Home | Consumer Energy Information | More Information | Webmaster | EERE Home

Time for shorts? Visit Energy Savers Cool Summer Tips.

Sugerencias para el invierno (Spanish Hot Winter Tips, tri-fold brochure) (PDF 1.5 MB) Download Acrobat Reader.
When buying appliances or windows, look for the Energy Star^®. Visit www.energystar.gov for more information.		A special thank you to Owens Corning for supporting the Energy Savers Campaign.