You know it is true:
People use more electricity as a reliable source of energy in heating during winter, and face increasing energy cost associated with it.
After all, the cost of heating your home can make up 40% to 60% of your monthly winter bill, according to Avista.
So how can you save money on utility bills when the cold arrives?
Here are 15 excellent videos packed with awesome electricity and energy saving tips in winter – and in most cases, throughout the year and in summer as well.
From simple DIY home hacks to expert tips by energy consultants, we got you covered.
#1: Seven Easy Money-Saving Tips for Winter
To save your electric energy during winter weather, consider the following:
- Seal all gaps in your doors,
- Run your fan clockwise at a lower speed,
- Mount an insulating film around your window,
- Avoid frequently changing your furnace filters,
- Ensure thermostat is off or set low when you are not home,
- Lower your water heating machine temperature to 120 degrees, and
- Always wear warm cloths when in doors and don’t depend too much on heating.
Ivy elaborates more on these 7 tips in the video below:
#2: Save On Utility Bills With These Simple Home Hacks
You can save your electricity energy loss and reduce your utility bills by sealing your windows, using weather stripping which is like a double sided tape.
Recommended read: 15 House Insulation Videos Packed with Superb Tips
Additionally, your thermostat needs to be switched off when no one is around, your fan needs to be slow and circulating clockwise, and try reduce the time taken in a hot shower.
Home improvement expert Jeff Rossen elaborates more on these simple home hacks:
#3: How to Save Heating Costs During Winter
Did you know that cracks within your house walls and windows are sources of interior heat loss? Yes, a sixteenth of an inch of cracks could cost 10% of your total electricity bills.
To seal these cracks you need a sealant such as expanding foam. Once you inject it into your cracks, it will expand and dry forming a barrier that prevent your internal heat from escaping.
Here are tips by University of Maine Cooperative Extension on how to seal leaks in your home to save home energy:
#4: Identify Air Leaks and Heat Loss with Thermal Imaging
Sometimes, heat loss from our interiors are beyond our control – especially when the escape route is not visible to the necked eye.
For us to discover such leakages, we need a thermal imaging device.
Recommended read: Top 10 Benefits of Thermal Camera in Home Improvement
There are various infrared thermal imaging cameras which can help you detect leaks. As soon as you discover the leaks, it will be appropriate for you to take the necessary measure to improve the energy efficiency of your house in order to save big on utility cost.
In video below, Rich Roshak shares the usage of infrared thermal imaging technology for home improvement, including identification of invisible energy loss causes like missing or inadequate insulation, etc.
#5: How to Perform a Whole-House Energy Audit
The other strategic electric energy saving tips is doing an audit prior to the cold season. It is better to discover loopholes early that wait until it is too late.
When doing an audit, you might need a thermal imaging device so as to discover cracks and air spaces within your house, as shared by Kevin O’Connor and energy specialists in the following video.
Recommended read: 9 DIY Home Energy Audits that Save BIG Money
You may also do an audit using your eyes where you identify faulty electric heating appliances and even cracks from the ventilation pipes.
#6: Energy Efficiency Audit Case Study and Tips
A home energy audit is a great way to find out where your home is losing energy, and what you can do about it to save electricity bill during winter and in long run.
To do a thorough leak identification, you can DIY or hire an expert to do the inspection then determine the best way to seal those leaks.
The following video shows an real home energy audit by energy consultant Tim Courtier, who surfaced lots of opportunities for home owner to improve the energy efficiency and save utility cost by addressing unexpected issues caused by newly installed windows, attic, etc:
#7: Other Energy Saving Tips To Save on Energy Bills
It is also possible to save money on energy bills by shopping around for better energy deal. This is basically looking for an energy products that are fairly cheaper.
Also, you need to keep draughts out. To do that, you may need a double glass windows and don’t forget to set your thermostat at about 18 to 21 degrees before going to be.
#8: Winter Energy Bills Tips by Money Saving Expert
As winter approaches, it will be your high time to research and consider the best tariff that will be pocket friendly during winter.
Saving on your winter energy bills for a strategy where you simply choose the right electric energy supply tariffs. Most tariffs are expensive than others yet the amount of electric energy being supplied is the same as any others.
Money saving expert Martin Lewis shares how you can keep the heat up while lower down your energy bills:
#9: Energy Efficient Curtains To Save Electricity
While some of the energy efficient curtains are heavy and cold/moisture absorbent, these insulated curtains need to be clipped to the rims of the window to ensure that the interior of your rooms are air tight.
Far from reducing the amount of heat lose, these curtains are also good in preventing light from the outside during the day, and wool curtains are the best.
This allows you to use a bulb that is of less watts.
#10: Easy Tips to Save Heating Costs esp. for Apartment
If you are living in an apartment, then check on the minimum heating temperature to help you keep the heating systems at a moderate temperatures hence saving wastage of energy.
You can consider plastic sheeting or insulation because they are cheap and easy to mount.
Alternatively, get an automatic programmable thermostat. They need to regulate the temperature and keep the heat at a moderate level.
Related read: 5 Best Smart / Programmable Thermostats for Energy Efficiency
On the other hand, consider giving less priority to those rooms that are not in use. This will certainly keep your electricity costs in check.
#11: Energy Saving Tips by Weatherization Specialist
During winter, it is crucial to change your filter every 30 days so as to enhance their efficiency.
There is something else that we normally forget: the spaces or leaks used to pass cables from the outside to the interior.
Seal spaces left by cables heading from outside at all times. To ensure that little energy is lost from your living room, you need to consider a thicker insulation material, as shared by Weatherization Specialist Bob Fulton:
#12: Another Great Winter Energy Savings Tips
Just before the winter begins, you need to create time to investigate where heat might use as an escape route from your house.
Some of the very common places include the chimney connected to your fireplace. As much as your furnace needs to be ventilated, it is important to consider a chimney design that allow smoke out and one that does not allow cold air in.
Besides, leaks around the window can be filled with silicone and even foam spray.
#13: Inexpensive Heating Tips To Save on Power Bill
As shown in the video below, there are a number cheap solution that will help you save you money that could have otherwise been spent in electric energy.
Bubble wraps are good as heat insulator and they allow light to penetrate into the house.
Your dryer exhaust needs to be directed into the house, so that you are not losing heat from the electric dryer.
Recommended read: 9 Garage Door Insulation Ideas For Winter and Summer
#14: Practical Ways To Save Money Heating Your Home
You can save money during winter that could have been lost through heating.
One trick to do that is to basically getting an efficient furnace. Get a furnace that run at 95% efficiency and save about 20% of the energy that would have been otherwise gone to waste.
Thick insulation is also necessary no matter how efficient your furnace is.
#15: Heat Saving Tips to Keep You Warm This Winter
To sum it up, here are some of the things to remember when saving heat and reducing your electric costs during winter.
Seal drafts from door and windows, your hardwood floors need aid rugs or carpet, consider an energy efficient blanket that is over 95% efficiency, cover your windows with heavy drapers at all time, keep your doors closed, get cozy with heavy warm clothes and get hot drinks for yourself and if need be, light a wood log fire instead of electric heaters.
Recommended read: Awesome Electric Fireplace To Save Energy Without Mess