When cold weather arrives and you turn up the thermostat, your energy bills may go up, too.
But you can save money and stay comfortably warm in winter by properly insulating your house and making a few simple changes.
A lot of heat can escape your home through drafty or old windows. So if you do not have new, energy-efficient windows, you can help keep warm air inside your home by sealing your windows with easy-to-install plastic film from the hardware store.
Hanging insulated curtains can also hold heat inside at night, and opening those curtains during the day to let the sun in can warm your home naturally.
If you often leave the house during the day, you can program your thermostat to stay low when no one is home and warm up in the afternoon before you return.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, adjusting the thermostat by just seven to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can lower your bills by up to 10% a year.
That not only saves you money, it can help prevent planet-warming carbon pollution by reducing the need for electricity and fossil fuels.
So taking simple steps to save energy in your home is a win for both your wallet and the climate.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media