It’s Winter time! Are you ready to save some energy bucks? Here are 7 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Winter Energy Bill Right Now. These tips are all DIY. You should be able to implement several if not all of these methods immediately to see results in your energy bill.
This post is part of our Proven Strategies for Budget Cuts in the Home Series. Click any link below for more budgeting tips.
- How To Reduce Energy Bills and Get Tax Credits
- Grocery Budget Cuts
- How We cut 13% Off Our Energy Bill
1. Insulate Windows
We have been hearing this for years, haven’t we? You don’t have to do what my Dad used to do when I was growing up. He would affix that plastic sheeting on the outside of our home to cover every single window! It worked but was unsightly.
- Use bubble wrap to create an insulated barrier against the cold
It’s easy to install and easy to remove and goes on the inside of the window. Simply spray the window with water and stick the bubble wrap to it. Peel it off when you are ready to remove it then wash the window to remove any streaks left behind. How easy is that?! This 1 minute YouTube video gives an easy demonstration.
How to Insulate a Window With Bubble Wrap
2. Stop the Fireplace Draft
When not in use, your fireplace can be a huge source of energy waste. Because heat rises, it can flow straight up your fireplace and out into the cold air along with your money. Cold air can also escape into your home from an old drafty fireplace.
If you have glass doors for your fireplace, this won’t be as much of a problem for you.
Consider using a fireplace blanket or balloon.
- Fireplace blocker blanket which is available on Amazon here. Pictured below.
- Fireplace plug balloon which can be found in different sizes and price ranges. These tend to be less expensive than the curtain and have mixed but good reviews. Most review complaints are related to getting the proper size with the damper handle slit in the correct location prior to ordering.
3. Clockwise Your Ceiling Fans
During the winter months, you will want your ceiling fans to run clockwise so they will push the warm air back down into the room. Run the ceiling fan on low to keep the warm air flowing downward.
4. Use Draft Guards
I know what you’re thinking yeah, yeah, yeah but it does work. We have one room in our home which has no heat or air vent, the laundry room. We like to keep that door closed because it is just off from our Den. A draft guard keeps that cold air out on those bitter cold winter days.
You could certainly purchase a cute little draft dodger to place at your door but you could also make one yourself or improvise with a rolled up blanket.
5. Socket Sealers
It doesn’t seem like such a big deal to install socket sealers. These are a small part of a larger savings when combined with other energy savers. If you live in one of those marvelous older homes with lots of character (and a few drafts here and there) this idea is especially for you! Pricing is around $8 and up depending on the size package you need.
5. Use Your Oven
This is exactly the reverse advice we receive for the summer months. Now is the time for making those winter comfort foods so be sure to open the oven door when you are finished cooking and allow that heat into the house. Turning on the oven for the sole purpose of heating is not recommended as the reverse effect will occur on your energy bill. The idea is for your oven to do double duty and save you $$. Casseroles will be your friend!
6. Turn Off That Exhaust Fan
Don’t run your kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan any longer than you simply must. Heat can escape within 10 minutes of turning on your bathroom exhaust fan. Because heat makes the air inside so dry, consider not even using your bathroom exhaust fan during the winter months.
Your steamy bathroom will do double duty for you:
1. Add moisture to the air ( a big help for sinus sufferers) and
2. Keep the heat from escaping through the vent!
7. Work with the Sun
It is quite tempting to keep your window coverings closed throughout the entire winter. Don’t do it though. Open your curtains, shades or blinds when the sun is beaming and allow that natural heat to work for you! Be sure to close those window coverings before the sun goes down though.
It is the sum of the whole which makes the difference
These 7 tips are all very easy to implement in your home and are all budget friendly, some even free! Sometimes it is the small steps which make the biggest difference in our energy savings.
Do you have a winter energy savings tip to share?
Please share with us in the comments. We love to hear your thoughts!
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Michelle from Weekend Craft says
Such great tips! Thanks so much for stopping by Creative Spark Link Party. Hope you stop by again today! http://bit.ly/1ybfEwi
shelly says
Great tips – this is awesome information! Thanks for sharing it at On Display Thursday! Don’t forget to stop by again tomorrow for this week’s party!
Jennifer Abel says
I will remember these great tips when winter comes to Australia, at present it is 40degrees C so we are wasting power with the air con!
Shirley Wood says
We will be switching over to trying to save energy in the heat of the summer far too soon here in the southern states! Nice to ‘meet’ you Jennifer. Thanks for stopping by.
Diane says
Such awesome tips! We have a huge glass area that loses tons of heat…We are in the northeast where it is about 5 degrees right now – serious cold spell. We have a large house which isn’t easy to afford the heating costs..Thank you for these awesome tips!
Jen says
I didn’t even know socket sealers existed. Genius! Thanks for sharing with us at the Momma Told Me Link Party. You always have great things to share!
Sonya says
I’m going to try the bubble wrap tip. I can always feel the cold air coming in from the windows during the winter. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Shirley Wood says
I’m so glad you found a tip you could use! Thanks for stopping by Sonya.
Tiffany says
I’m a huge fan or working with the sun! My windows are virtually never closed (one, because of the view and two, because of all the natural light). Thanks for sharing!
Shirley Wood says
Wow, Tiffany it must be awesome to have a great view! We enjoy the view of the trees behind our home in the summer and fall. Thanks for stopping by
Zan says
Happy New Year to you Shirley! Great tips for us here in Chicago! We have some tough winters and I am sure these would come in handy!! Love the new look on the blog:)
Shirley Wood says
You guys have a longer winter than we do and much more brutal too. We think 50 is cold. Lol. Thanks Zan.
Lauren Richardson says
I seriously needed this post!! I am always looking to lower our energy bill, and these tips are awesome!! Thank you!
Shirley Wood says
I’m glad you found some helpful tips. I’m always looking for energy savings too, just short of solar energy which would be great! Thanks for stopping by Lauren.
pascha shepard says
I am going to look into a fireplace blanket blocker.
pascha shepard says
Great tips! Thanks for putting this together. I am going to Pin your post.
Amanda Smith says
These are great tips. We already do several of these things. Those electric outlet draft stopper thingies (at least that’s what we call them at my house) really cut down on some drafts along our one outside wall when we put them in.
My windows are double pane, but a few of them leak a bit of air along the frame. We caulked them up better when we had the walls torn up this summer, so they are better now. I bet that bubble wrap thing would be just the ticket for our garage window though.
We need to do a better job of working with the sun. But since I work third shift, it will probably only happen on my off days 🙂
Thanks for the great tips!
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
We have been having record cold here in Southern California, and my heater has been running day and night! Very unusual for us… These are some excellent tips, but I have so many super large windows all around my house, I may go broke buying bubble wrap. LOL I had not even considered the bathroom vent–yikes. And we do leave the oven door open for heat after cooking. 🙂 These are excellent tips, thanks.
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Erica @ The Crumby Cupcake says
I have never seen socket sealers before! I definitely need those in my 30+ year old house!!! Great tips here, thank you!!!
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
These are great tips!!! Energy bills can get so expensive in the winter when it gets super cold. I will have to share these with my husband!
Shirley Wood says
My husband loved these tips too. He has already implemented several around our home. Thanks Emily for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Mary says
Thanks for enlightening me… I never knew there was such a thing as s fireplace blanket. Definitely will research that more!
Shirley Wood says
Isn’t it always great to find something new like a fireplace blanket. That almost sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? The links will take you to the fireplace blankets on Amazon. (shameless plug)
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
Great tips, Shirley! Most of these would work to keep things cool in the summer, too! (From a true Floridian LOL)
Shirley Wood says
Yes they would work for the summer too! For us southerners, you’re farther south than me, the summer months are worse on our energy bill than the winter months! I’m trying to convince my husband that we need solar energy 🙂
Alli Smith says
These are all great tips and I’m always looking for ways to reduce energy bills. We have double pane windows, but I use the draft guards on my back door because I can actually feel the cold air coming in around that door frame. We’ve had it worked on several times, but there is nothing “square” in my old restored house. 🙂
Shirley Wood says
We also have double windows so they are not a source of issue for us. Our fireplace has the glass doors so that isn’t a problem either. My husband is going to install the socket sealers today actually. I am always looking for ways to reduce our energy bill.
It is the sum of the whole which makes the difference!
Nancy Kay says
These are very helpful and easy ideas!
As a divorce guidance coach and a realtor, these will be good strategies to share with my clients.
Shirley Wood says
Nancy, I am so glad you stopped by and took the time to comment. I am glad you find these easy tips to be helpful and will be sharing them.
Stephen says
Fantastic tips for reducing energy bills as we head into Winter in the UK, well worth taking the time to implement. I will be suggesting this site to my friends and family.
Shirley Wood says
Thank you Stephen. I’m so glad you stopped by and especially that you took the time to comment. For some parts of the U.S., winter has been going on for several months but here in the southern states, it hasn’t gotten really cold just yet. Late January and all of Feb. will be very cold though. We have to prepare.
Janice Wald says
Hi,
I’m in California, so I guess I can’t complain, but it’s in the 30’s here at night which is freezing for us especially with a cold wind. It’s cold in my house right now. I’m with jacket on. I hear in the news we’re about to warm up though.
Shirley Wood says
We had the 30’s at night recently as well. The days are in the upper 50’s and low 60’s so that isn’t too bad. We actually worked in the yard earlier in the week in short sleeves. Those cold days are coming though so we need to prepare.
Nick #thisyearinmusic says
Luckily it isn’t that cold here, but these are all really clever and DIY solutions!
Shirley Wood says
Thanks for stopping by again Nick. I appreciate your comment. Glad you’re not cold!
Sophie Bowns says
Our house is Georgian, and for that reason, I don’t think it’s energy efficient at all. We have double glazed windows, and an AGA, but our house is pretty cold most of the time….brrrr!
Shirley Wood says
Sophie, you definitely need to implement some of these easy solutions to save on your energy bill! Those older homes are fabulous and fun with so much character but the energy bill can be a bear!
Reginia Cordell says
When I lived in Atlanta, the winter time or summer would always have me on edge when it came to utilities. I’ve done most of these but I’ve never heard of socket sealers. I will most definitely get them when I move back to the US. Can you keep them on the socket year-round?
Shirley Wood says
Regina, I believe you can leave the socket sealers in place once you install them. We live about 80 miles south of Atlanta so we share a similar climate with you in Georgia.