Ross and Witmer Fall is the perfect time for working toward a more energy-efficient home for the winter months ahead. Here are three easy places to reduce energy.
Lighting
With the shorter days during the winter months, it seems darker both inside and outside, making it common to leave lights on longer. Fall is the perfect time to install solar lights around the exterior of your home to help light things up, without increasing home energy use. Solar lights can light up walkways, driveways and steps.
Also, if you haven’t switched your interior light bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs, now is the time to do that. It’s one of the easiest things you can do for a more energy-efficient home.
Heating
North Carolina winters can be quite cold, so the last thing you want to deal with is a non-functioning furnace. Fall is the best time to make an appointment for routine furnace maintenance so that your furnace operates at its best, which can significantly lower your energy bills.
Another tip for a more energy-efficient home is to install a programmable thermostat, which allows you to set the temperature for both comfort and savings, depending on your schedule. For example, set the thermostat to reduce the temperature during the night and increase it just before your family wakes up. Then set it to drop again while everyone is out for the day.
Fall is also the time to caulk and install weatherstripping around windows and doors to prevent drafts.
Recycle for Warmth
As you prepare your yard for winter, rake up leaves and transfer them to the flower beds to form a natural mulch as they decay. The leaves will provide a covering to protect plants over the winter and will provide nutrients for spring plantings. Gather twigs and branches to use for heat in the fireplace or the backyard fire ring.
To learn more about how to maintain an energy-efficient home, contact us at Ross & Witmer and we’ll be happy to schedule a furnace maintenance appointment or provide you with more home energy efficiency ideas. We proudly serve the Charlotte, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union areas.