Five Ways to Save Utilities This Winter

Winter means three things: longer nights, colder temperatures and higher electricity and gas bills. When you add in the Christmas lights, holiday party hosting and days off work at home with the family, many of us use as much or more electricity in the winter as we do cooling our homes in the summer. Fortunately, there are five easy ways you can cut down on your electricity and gas usage that do not cost much or require professional installation.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat will let you set the temperature in advance or put your home on a cycle. This way you can turn the heat down while you're out of the house or sleeping and significantly reduce the amount of electricity you normally consume in the winter months, which can reduce your electric bill by 20 to 30 percent, according to MSN. To maximize your savings, Energy Star recommends reducing the heat by at least eight percent when you're away from home or asleep.

Install a Cover Over Your Attic Stairs

The small gap between the frame and the hatch on your attic stairs causes heat to constantly leak through to the attic. A cover will close off the gap and prevent heat from traveling to your attic, cutting down on your utility usage while still giving you easy access to the attic. Companies like Battic sell fabric attic stair covers you can install yourself, and they're reasonable priced, starting around $30.

Put the Christmas Lights on a Timer

If you have a habit of forgetting to turn off your Christmas tree or outdoor lights when you go to bed, you may want to put those lights on a timer. You can buy a timer fairly cheap at any hardware store and they're easy to use and install. Better yet, a timer will keep you from going out in the cold every day to turn on the outside lights.

Put Draft Covers Over Your Doors and Windows

While it is better overall to have your house professional sealed before the winter months, draft covers work as a cheap alternative. A draft cover is a long fabric tube that fits along the cracks in doors or on a window seal and keeps the cold air from getting through, meaning it takes less electricity to heat your house. Draft covers work great for older houses or in rooms you do not use often, such as a storage closet or guest room. Best of all, you can easily make your own covers out of old socks, clothing or let over fabric materials.

Put a Hot Water Jacket on Your Water Heater

Very few people want to take a cold shower in the dead of winter, but cranking up the water heater every time your family turns on the faucet can quickly raise your electric or gas usage. You can insulate your water heater with a fiberglass hot water jacket. The insulation will help the water heater heat up quicker and stay warmer longer, reducing your overall cost and usage.

Jennifer Mulrean, Slash Your Electric Bill 6 Easy Ways, MSN.
Programmable Thermostats, Energy Star.