Written By: Justine Allen




Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year… While most would agree that Christmas is indeed wonderful, what Andy William’s classic carol neglects to relay is the infinite hustle and bustle of the season.  We often become so enthusiastic about the tree trimming, hall decking, gift wrapping, and goodie baking that we overlook important household responsibilities including preparing our homes for winter.  Many people don’t realize that this hurts both their budget and the environment.  Winterizing does not only include expensive and daunting tasks; there are many quick-fix solutions to get your home Jack Frost ready.  So before you crank up the heat and get cozy by the fireplace, make sure you have done these simple and affordable winter-proofing techniques.  
One of the first and most common sense things to do is put as much separation as you can between yourself and the frosty outdoors.  The name of the game is draft elimination, choose your weapons wisely: window plastic, insulated drapes, caulk, storm windows, draft snakes—see what you can find around your house and get creative, the web is full of great ideas and tutorials.   According to the US Department of Energy, drafts can waste anywhere from 5-30% of your outgoing energy.  So start digging around the attic for that old sewing machine!      
After you have successfully voided the draft, it is time to think about investing in a programmable thermostat.  This is an easy way to ensure that your furnace will not be working when it does not need to be.  A programmable thermostat costs between $50-100 and saves the average household approximately $150/year—quickly paying for itself.  A good tip to remember is that for every degree you lower the thermostat, you can anticipate saving between 1-3% on your heating bill.  During the winter months, the ideal indoor temperature is 68-70 during the day 60-62 through the night.  

One commonly overlooked method of circulating heat hangs just above your head—your ceiling fans.  Many people only use theirs during the summer months, but often fans are designed to be used year round.  During the summer, the blades run counterclockwise and thus produce a cooling breeze.  But, by reversing the fan’s spin direction so that the blades move clockwise, the fan will push the warmer air that has collected near the ceiling back down into a room.  This can actually help to cut heating costs up to 10%!

You change the coffee filter, the Brita water filter, even the vacuum filter, yet for some reason it is so easy to forget to change the furnace filter.  If you are interested in getting your home ready for winter, it is a good idea.  A dirty filter makes the furnace work harder and less efficiently, therefore increasing heating bills each month.  It is a good idea to change it at the onset of winter and then every six to eight weeks through the duration of the season.

Then there is the tried and true method that has been used by people for thousands of years: dress for the season.  Rather than turn the heat up in the house, turn your body’s internal thermostat up.  Wear lots of layers in order to keep your personal thermostat running warm.  Stock up on sweaters, wool socks, leggings, and don’t forget the house slippers!  A long- sleeved, light sweater can provide about two degrees and a heavier sweater is worth about four.
  
 Each of these different winter-proofing methods cuts back on the amount of fossil fuels your household uses, not only will the Earth thank you, but so will your wallet.  Taking these easy steps to winterize your home can make your holidays even more wonderful.  So next time you feel winter’s chill creeping in, make sure you are ready.







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The Daily Green Staff. "Winterizing Your Home - Winterization Tips to Save Energy and Money - The Daily Green." Going Green, Fuel Efficiency, Organic Food, and Green Living - The Daily Green. The Daily Green. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. <http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/winterize-home-tips-energy-461008#ixzz19XqVtSNb>.
Roth, J. D. "Cheap Ways to Stay Warm This Winter." Get Rich Slowly - Personal Finance That Makes Cents. 14 Dec. 2006. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. <http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/12/14/cheap-ways-to-stay-warm-this-winter/>.
Soloman, Christopher. "10 Ways to Winterize Your Home." MSN Real Estate - Home Buying & Selling Tips, Rentals, MLS Listings - MSN Real Estate. Fall 2009. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. <http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107899>.