Stay Warm & Save: Tips for Heating Your Home
Article published in Longmeadow Neighbors
(December 2022)
It seems like EVERYTHING is more expensive these days, and while there are certain costs we can cut down on, heating your home is an essential task no matter the cost of energy. However, with a few simple suggestions, you can still heat your home without burning through your budget this season. An added perk? These tips also help to cut down on your carbon footprint - so you’re saving cash and the planet at the same time!
Button Up Your Home
Many homes in Longmeadow are older, draftier, and in need of an efficiency boost. Massachusetts offers free, in-home energy assessments through its Mass Save program, and can offer drastically discounted products like insulation and caulking, that will keep your home as warm as possible. Also, open your drapes to let the warm sunlight in - and close them at night to keep out the cool.
Fix Funky Flows
Air flow is often overlooked, but essential! Blocked vents make your system work harder, and can contribute to cracks and leaks. Additionally, while fireplaces can add warmth, an open damper LOVES to suck the heat from your home when a fire isn’t lit.
Seek Small Savings
A penny here and a penny there can add up when we’re talking about your energy bill. Only run full loads of laundry - all loads use the same amount of water and electricity. Also, unplugging unused electronics and adjusting your water heater’s temperature can make a small difference - and all of these tactics add up over time!
Go Shopping!
There are a few items that give your home a quick ROI, all while cutting down the draftiness of your home. Weatherstrip doors and windows to seal in warm air, insulate exposed pipes, purchase a smart thermostat, swap to LED bulbs, and put those holiday lights on a timer. Also, adding insulation (rugs) to hard floor surfaces provide additional insulation.
Put on a sweater!
Hey kids - have your parents ever yelled at you to do this? They aren’t wrong! Every degree on the thermostat counts, and bundling up at home helps keep you insulated. Don’t forget socks (added insulation for your feet) and hats (it is estimated that nearly half of your heat escapes out from your melon)!