Winter is coming. For those who live in cold climates, saving on heating costs has become as critical as saving on cooling costs is in the summertime. Some measures that help conserve heat on frosty days will also help make it easier to cool a house on hot days. In addition, energy conservation efforts may help improve both indoor and outdoor air quality and of course, reduce a home's carbon footprint.
- Consider Energy Star heating units: If you have a chance to invest in a new furnace, consider one that has been approved and rated by Energy Star. This program is actually backed by the government to guarantee that the furnaces are the most efficient heaters of their type on the market. According to the government's Energy Star website, these products have to deliver both energy savings and quality to earn this label.
- Seal off drafts: One of the cheapest and most effective things that many homeowners can do to save on their energy bills is to insulate around doors and windows to eliminate drafts. This is the type of project that most people can do with some simple supplies from a home improvement store, and it usually pays off quickly in reduced heating costs and a more comfortable house.
- Improve attic insulation: Homes that aren't well insulated lose most energy through the roof. Upgrading insulation in the attic's floor or ceiling could reduce this heat loss. The furnace won't have to work so hard, so energy gets conserved, and the heating unit's life gets extended. This might be a weekend project for a handy homeowner, but contacting professionals to do the job might not cost that much more.
What Does Heat Conservation Have to Do With Home Insurance?
According to Fox Business, insurance companies might offer discounts for people who update their furnaces and other home appliances to newer and safer models. New heaters are less likely to catch on fire than old ones. That's one reason why newer and renovated homes are sometimes cheaper to cover than older ones of a similar value. Even if insurers don't offer direct home insurance discounts for upgrades like these, they do sometimes charge less when their clients haven't made many claims.
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What other tips do you know of for cutting back on heating bills? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section below. LC 2015- 403