Sustainable Ways to Prepare Your Home for Winter
Winter may bring cozy evenings and hot cocoa, but it also means higher energy bills and heavier strain on your home systems. The good news is that small, sustainable upgrades can keep you warm, reduce costs and help the planet. Here are some effective ways to prepare your property for the cold season.
1. Seal and Insulate to Keep Heat In
Proper insulation works like a winter coat for your residence, keeping warmth where it belongs on the inside. Common culprits that require an insulating upgrade include the attic and walls, which prevent cold drafts from creeping in. To retain warmth inside, increase the thermal resistance o with heat-resistant materials.
Seal the leaks and gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk to eliminate wasteful openings. Consider upgrading old windows to energy-efficient or double-pane models to retain heat and keep cold and noise out.
Likewise, add insulation to older garage doors and weatherize the edges and joints to keep breezes out so the HVAC system doesn’t work harder to counter heat loss on cold days. Garage doors can contribute to significant energy waste by allowing too much air to escape. To prevent this issue, close the door between your attached garage and the living areas.
2. Use Smart Tech to Conserve Energy and Water
Technology can help you live comfortably while using less electricity. Install a programmable thermostat, which automatically lowers the temperature when you're asleep or away, thereby saving money on unnecessary heating.
Switch to low-flow fixtures, such as modern showerheads and faucets, which maintain pressure while using less water, potentially saving up to 20,000 gallons annually. Try more efficient ENERGY STAR-rated products that use less electricity and water without sacrificing performance.
3. Switch to LED Lights
Replacing halogen and older incandescent lights with LED lights is projected to save Americans $1.6 billion annually on utility bills, which means a brighter and more cost-effective future for lighting up your home. Additionally, LED lights have a longer service life, which means you’ll send fewer spent lights to landfills. LEDs are available in a wide range of colors and "temperatures," from cool, bright light to a warm, cozy glow, allowing you to customize the ambience of your home for the winter months.
4. Build Better Daily Habits
Living sustainably doesn’t always require renovations or heavy investment, and small daily actions add up. Unplug idle electronics this winter to reduce “phantom” energy use, which can save as much as 10% of your monthly utility costs.
Even in the colder months, you can line- or air-dry your laundry indoors, saving electricity and providing a more natural and sustainable alternative to using a dryer. Plus, it’s gentler on your laundry, and the same principle applies to drying your dishes.
5. Choose and Maintain Sustainable Energy Alternatives
Reduce your power reliance by opting for alternative power options, such as solar-powered water heating systems. You can use radiant energy from the sun to heat water for home use. At the same time, insulating pipes can help retain warmth, so you only need to heat once, rather than reheating what has cooled in the pipes or wasting energy.
As fall approaches, get a service technician to check your HVAC systems and electrical wiring. These systems work hard and require frequent maintenance. Replace the filter every three months and ensure you use reputable installers, as incorrect fitment can result in 30% more power consumption.
Take One Step at a Time
A sustainable home is where progress happens. Start with one or two upgrades that fit your budget and lifestyle and expand over time. Whether insulating your attic or garage door, switching to smart tech, or simply replacing old bulbs, every step makes your residence more sustainable, saving you money and protecting the planet.
