Bostonians awoke yesterday morning to a light dusting of snow, the first of the year, signifying that perhaps autumn is already transitioning to winter. And as we prepare to crank the temperature and break out the space heaters, it’s important to remember that doing these gobbles energy the way BostInno guzzles hard cider.
To help keep you from busting your radiator before December even rolls around, the ever so energy-conscientious Commonwealth of Massachusetts blog has provided its residents and readers with eight simple steps to help you save some green, in more ways than one if you catch my drift.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air.
- Make sure all heating vents are open and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed throughout one’s home.
- Close the damper on your fireplace. A chimney functions as a large open window that draws warm air out of the room and creates a draft.
- Install a programmable thermostat to help lower utility bills and manage heating systems.
- Wear warm clothing, set your thermostat to 68°F or lower, and set the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F to save energy.
- Clean or replace filters on furnaces every other month.
- Keep the draperies and shades on windows open during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home and close them at night to keep the heat in.
- Having your oil-fired heating system serviced annually and your gas-fired heating system serviced every three years is good practice.
Heed these guidelines and you might not even know winter is upon us. But, in the immortal words of Ned Stark, winter is coming so be sure to prepare accordingly.
