Winter is just around the corner and taking a peak at your heating bills last year the chills you get will be from more than just the drop in temperature. Save yourself some money and reduce your energy consumption too!

This year, why not try to be green about heating with these energy saving tips

• The easiest way to save energy is to lower your thermostat - you can save as much as 10% a year on heating/cooling bills by turning it down between 10 and 15% for just 8 hours a day (perhaps while you’re away at work). To make it even easier (especially for those of us who would forget) install a programmable thermostat.

• Be sure your heating units, fans, and vents are all clean and functioning normally - replace your furnace or heat pump air filter regularly.

• Close the damper to your fireplace.

• Check the insulation in your home - many manufactures advise at least 15.5″ of insulation in the attic.

• Be sure all windows and doors are a snug fit - if not then look for eco-friendly weather stripping for windows and additional caulking for doors.

• If you have unoccupied rooms in your home, close the vents in them and close the doors.

• Install an insulation blanket around your water heater.

• Double check your wall outlets - outside air can seep into these often unnoticed.

• Throw on an extra sweater, comfy socks, and snuggle with a loved one under a blanket!

Stay warm this winter by taking simple steps to reduce your energy consumption and save money at the same time!

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Green Living Tips, Healthy Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.