With the onset of winter across the country, and the COVID-19 pandemic still going strong, it looks like we will be spending a lot of time indoors for the next few months. Although it can be tempting to crank up the thermostat inside your home when it’s cold outside, doing so regularly throughout the season could cost you exorbitant energy bills.
But there are strategies to set your thermostat during the winter that will ensure you stay warm(ish), while still being able to afford your heating bills. Here’s what to know.
Energy-Saving Winter Thermostat Settings
For many reasons, people feel comfortable at different indoor temperatures. Some prefer to put it on the cooler side, and then rest under blankets and in warm clothes. Others will wear shorts and T-shirts all winter, and make their home feel like a tropical climate.
But if you’re doing it strictly In terms of keeping your heating costs down, energy Saverof the US Department of Energy Consumer Resources has some recommendations for saving energy—setting your thermostat to about 68°F during the day in winter, and a few degrees cooler at night, and when you’re away from home.
If 68°F feels a little cold, there’s a reason. According to Energy Saver, the smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, your energy bill will be lower,
During winter, the lower the internal temperature, the slower the heat loss. So the longer your home stays at a lower temperature, the more energy you save, because your home has lost less energy compared to a higher temperature.
Other Cost-Saving Winter Heating Tips
In addition to your thermostat setting, here are a few more Tips from Energy Saver To help you stay warm this winter, while keeping your heating costs down:
- Clean and/or replace the furnace filter once a month or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Keep heating vents/registers, baseboard heaters and radiators clean.
- Make sure heating vents/registers, baseboard heaters and radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
- Keeping your window treatments to work curtains/curtains And the shades on your south-facing windows open during the day (to let sunlight in) and close at night to help block out any Draft.
And if keeping the thermostat at 68°F or lower isn’t convenient for you, remember that it’s winter, and it’s time to break out the thick sweaters, sweatpants, and blankets.
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