Turn Down the Heat and Turn the Bills Down Too
One of the simplest things you can do is adjust your central heating timer and thermostat at various times during the day and night.
If you lower the temperature overnight by (say) 5 degrees and turn it up again in the morning, you will save a lot of money and use a lot fewer resources.
Alternatively, if there isn't going to be an overnight frost, and the temperature is forecast to be above freezing all night, consider turning the heating off altogether and have an extra blanket or higher tog duvet on your bed.
You'll keep warm without using any extra heat.
Set the heating timer to come on about 30 minutes or so before your alarm clock goes off, and you'll wake to a warm house.
A simple way of saving energy at home, if your house is empty all day, is to turn your heating down to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 c) when you go out, and turn it up again when you come home.
This will keep your pipes from freezing in the depths of winter, but will dramatically reduce your energy bills.
If possible, consider using programmable thermostats to control your heating.
They are expensive, but if properly programmed, can reduce close to 2,000 pounds of greenhouse emissions a year in an average home (source EPA).
They can pay for themselves in energy (i.
e.
gas and electricity bill) savings fairly rapidly, too.
If they're approved for use where you are, then installing them is a no-brainer! When deciding what level to set your thermostat to, consider how many people are going to be in a room at one time.
Believe it or not, a human body in an enclosed room gives out heat roughly equivalent to 175 watts of power.
That's a very bright light bulb! So if you're having a party and have (say) 20 people in a room - the equivalent of a 3.
5 kilowatt heater - it will get pretty warm if you leave the room heating at its normal setting, so turn it down for the evening and save all round.
Finally, wear clothing that's appropriate for the time of year.
Sure, you can crank your heating right up and wear a t-shirt in the middle of winter, but wouldn't it make more sense to put on a sweater? Wearing many layers of clothing can trap warm air close to your body and keep you warm, thereby reducing the level of heating required.
While you should never keep your heating so low that anyone in your household feels cold (and this is particularly important for older people who feel the cold more than younger ones) following these simple steps can reduce the amount of heating you require, boost your home's energy efficiency, and cut your power bills too!
If you lower the temperature overnight by (say) 5 degrees and turn it up again in the morning, you will save a lot of money and use a lot fewer resources.
Alternatively, if there isn't going to be an overnight frost, and the temperature is forecast to be above freezing all night, consider turning the heating off altogether and have an extra blanket or higher tog duvet on your bed.
You'll keep warm without using any extra heat.
Set the heating timer to come on about 30 minutes or so before your alarm clock goes off, and you'll wake to a warm house.
A simple way of saving energy at home, if your house is empty all day, is to turn your heating down to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 c) when you go out, and turn it up again when you come home.
This will keep your pipes from freezing in the depths of winter, but will dramatically reduce your energy bills.
If possible, consider using programmable thermostats to control your heating.
They are expensive, but if properly programmed, can reduce close to 2,000 pounds of greenhouse emissions a year in an average home (source EPA).
They can pay for themselves in energy (i.
e.
gas and electricity bill) savings fairly rapidly, too.
If they're approved for use where you are, then installing them is a no-brainer! When deciding what level to set your thermostat to, consider how many people are going to be in a room at one time.
Believe it or not, a human body in an enclosed room gives out heat roughly equivalent to 175 watts of power.
That's a very bright light bulb! So if you're having a party and have (say) 20 people in a room - the equivalent of a 3.
5 kilowatt heater - it will get pretty warm if you leave the room heating at its normal setting, so turn it down for the evening and save all round.
Finally, wear clothing that's appropriate for the time of year.
Sure, you can crank your heating right up and wear a t-shirt in the middle of winter, but wouldn't it make more sense to put on a sweater? Wearing many layers of clothing can trap warm air close to your body and keep you warm, thereby reducing the level of heating required.
While you should never keep your heating so low that anyone in your household feels cold (and this is particularly important for older people who feel the cold more than younger ones) following these simple steps can reduce the amount of heating you require, boost your home's energy efficiency, and cut your power bills too!
Source...