Be proactive. The best way to save money on your home energy costs this winter and yer round is to not use as much energy in your daily routine. By identifying potential energy increases before you actually do them, you will save money on energy. For example, proactively abstain from turning on a light that may not be needed, rather than turning off when it is already on.
Pay attention to what your home is telling you. As I teach you in my free home energy secrets course, your home is trying to tell you something. When you walk down your hallway and feel drafty, that’s your home telling you there is an energy leak problem in the hall. When you wake up in the morning to a cold home, that is your home telling you there might be a furnace or heating system problem. If a window is drafty…well, you get the idea.
Diligence is key. Make repairs and enact energy saving tips sooner than later, ideally within a few days after you find them. Think of it this way. Once you find a home energy ‘gaffe’, every day that you let the mistake slide costs you money. Sometimes it will only be pennies a day. Other times, it may be much more significant.
Be thorough. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to assume how your home uses energy. You simply can not do this, because every home is different and every home uses energy differently. In fact, every room of your home uses energy differently. When you look at your home’s energy usage, take the time to walk through every single nook and corner, wall to wall, right from the ceiling to the floor. You’ll be amazed what you find.
When in doubt, shut it off. Not sure if you’ll need a light on? Turn it off. Put lights that are used but forgotten, like outdoor lights, on timers on motion sensors.