Winter energy-savings tips

Want to save energy this winter? There are many steps you can take that will help reduce your overall energy costs. The more efficient your home is and the less energy that is transferred from inside to outside, the less energy it’ll take to keep your home comfortable – even in the coldest part of the year.
Greener Ideal, an environmental news publication, recommends these winter energy-savings tips:

1. Sunshine is your friend! It’s an excellent natural warmer for your home. Open the curtains and blinds on west- and east-facing windows during the day to allow as much sunshine as possible into your home. Then draw your curtains closed at night to insulate your home from the winter night chill.
2. Check your insulation. Insulation is like the winter coat for your house. The heavier it is, the warmer it will be. If your home is poorly insulated, it may be time to add some eco-friendly insulation. Add insulation blankets to the attic floor or wrap your water heater in fiberglass insulation.
3.  Seal leaks. A leaky home in a wasteful home, so find those vulnerable areas of your home where cold air gets in and warm air escapes. The most likely culprits are unsealed doors and windows. Seal leaks with weather stripping to prevent warm air leaving your home. Ensure seals around ducts are in good condition, too. Cover unused fireplaces to prevent passage of air through the flue.
4. Turn down the thermostat. Perhaps the most energy-conscious choice a homeowner can make is to have a programmable thermostat installed. You can set the unit to run at one temperature when you’re home and awake, another while you’re sleeping, and yet another when you’re not home. Save $75 through SDG&E’s instant rebate program by visiting sdge.com/instant.
5. Keep those tootsies warm. An energy-efficient way to keep your home warm in the winter is to switch to underfloor heating or a radiant heating system. Underfloor heaters use radiant heating to warm the entire room from the ground up. Heat travels upward which makes a floor heater more efficient than a heater with ducts placed near the ceiling. 

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