How are you saving on energy this winter?

I’ll let you in on a little secret – Lauren is very frugal… but not with everything.  In winter, she wants a warm house and is willing to pay for it.  But this year, it has been so cold that I finally convinced her to turn the thermostat down!  From 71 to 70… a whole degree!

There are many ways to save on utility bills, turning the heat down is probably the most significant one.

Here are a few other ideas:

• Turn down the thermostat at night.
• If everyone is gone at work/school during the day, turn down the thermostat during the day
• Make sure your furnace is clean and in working order.  If your furnace or boiler hasn’t been tuned up in a few years, you might be losing out on some efficiency.
• Close off rooms not being used.
• Make sure all of your windows are locked shut.  This sounds obvious, but if a window isn’t locked shut, the top portion could slightly fall and become the source of a draft.  It’s happened in my house more than once!
• If you have old drafty windows, use rope caulk or a window insulation kit that seals your windows with plastic wrap.

What have you set your thermostat at this winter?

Have you thought of any creative ways to reduce your energy expenses this year?