10 Ways To Fight Off Old Man Winter…and Save Money, Too

Plunging temperatures and record-breaking snowfall totals have made this an exceptionally brutal winter across a large section of the country. Rather than face the snow and ice, people are staying indoors, turning up the heat and blazing lights in every room. All this indoor time can really end up breaking the bank. Oil, heating and electric bills always skyrocket in the winter months, but even more so this year when faced with one of the worst winters on record.

Here are 10 simple ways to conserve energy, save money, and still stay nice and warm this winter.

1 – Locate your drafts and stop your money from “going out the window.” Check for small gaps and spaces around your weather stripping and caulking. By fixing these issues, you can increase the efficiency of your heating system and save a substantial amount of money on home heating costs.

2 - Don’t compensate for drafts by turning up your heat… Block Them! Draft blockers are foam plates that fit behind light switches and electrical outlets to reduce drafts.

3 – Drop the Curtain on Drafts – Sometimes, the simple fixes are the best. Hanging heavy drapes and curtains (with linings) over drafty windows in the evenings will keep the winter cold at bay. Remember to open them in the daytime to take advantage of the sun’s warmth.

4 – Be a Real Draft Dodger – A simple fix for a draft in any dwelling is called a “draft-dodger” or “door snake.” Slide it over gaps at the bottom of windows and doorframes, and it will keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

5 – Give it a Spin – Did you know that using your ceiling fans can help you circulate the heat in your home? Reverse the direction of your fan, set it at the lowest speed and instead of cooling you down, the movement will push the rising warm air downward.

6 – Get Conditioned to Save – Permanent air conditioning units (ones that cannot be removed) should be covered and sealed on both the inside and outside to block drafts and help you prolong the life of the unit – a double savings!

7 – Finally See the Light – An easy money-saving winter strategy is to replace your old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). With lights burning away day and night in the cold winter months, CFLs use less energy, save money and can be replaced as needed.

8 – Weather the Storm – Installing storm windows can be expensive and time consuming, so for a less expensive and more immediate fix, you can purchase “storm window kits.” For about $3 to $10 per window, these plastic weather-proofing sheets will retain your home’s heat and truly make a difference to your bottom line.

9 – The Heat is On – Programmable thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your home at different times of the day. Turning the heat down during the day and back up in the evening will save you hundreds of dollars in heating costs per year and pay for itself within three years.

10 – It’s All a Reflection on You – Installing “Heat Reflectors” -- thin sheets that fit behind radiators to reflect heat away from the wall and into the room -- maximizes your radiator’s efficiency and prevents energy waste.

By: Christina Filip

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Christina Filip, Senior Account Manager and Senior Media Planner of Vision Media Marketing, Inc., has written extensively about recycling, conservation and green transportation. The company, a full-service public relations and media consulting firm based in North Jersey, maintains a blog, VMMI Policy Perspectives, focused on a broad range of public policy topics in New Jersey and beyond.