Tips to “Winterize” Your Home

As winter approaches (in some parts of the world), here are some ideas for "winterizing" homes to stay warm and save energy.

• Insulating the walls and attics will save about 25% on your home heating bills (ensure that your insulation does not have formaldehyde and uses recycled materials).
  
• Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket–only if it is more than 5 years old and has no internal insulation of its own.
  
• Clean or replace the air filters in your furnace. This can save 5% or more in energy costs.
  
• Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows to plug air leaks.
  
• If you are replacing windows, invest in energy-saving models. Otherwise, if your windows leak, use specially designed plastic sheets to block off cold air from entering house (these can be purchased in any hardware store).
  
• Get an energy audit from your local utility company to find out how to improve your home's energy efficiency

Originally posted in "On Eagles' Wings" November 28th 2004

This content originated at Canfei Nesharim.org.

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