With the environment being top of mind these days, many people are starting to think about how they can live more eco-friendly lives. One great place to start is in your home.
People often think of ways they can reduce their trash by buying less plastic and creating less waste, but one thing we don’t consider often enough is wasted energy. There is an environmental impact that we don’t consider when running your AC on high all summer long or setting the heater to 80 degrees in the winter. But does that mean you have to freeze all winter? No! Absolutely not. There are plenty of ways to weatherproof your home so that you are using less energy, staying warm, and leaving a smaller environmental impact. It’s a win all around.
1. Stop Those Darn Drafts!
Seal up any drafty doors, especially any exterior doors. Drafty doors account for a big chunk of energy loss in most homes with exterior doors. By covering up damaged thresholds, old seals, and gaps you can not only keep warm air in, but you’ll also keep out moisture and dust. Simple additions like door bottom seals that prevent air from escaping from under your door and new weather stripping can make a huge difference for any exterior doors. Even doors that lead out to hallways can benefit by stopping drafts from coming in and keeping air from escaping out.
2. Out With the Old Curtains, in With the Energy-Efficient
Use energy-efficient curtains on your windows. Old windows allow for a huge amount of energy transfer between the indoors and out, but new windows can lead to a lot of energy loss as well. Energy-efficient curtains will help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
In the summer months, curtains with a light fabric facing the windows will help keep the heat from sunlight from transferring into your home and heating the room. In the winter months, the fabric in the curtains stops the cool air from the windows from transferring to the room and cooling it down. Like a koozie on a cold can, the fabric works to slow down the heat transfer. Keeping your apartment a few degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter with the simple addition of energy-efficient curtains is one choice you can’t afford not to make!
3. If Air Has a Chance to Escape, Seal it Up
Seal up any other obvious gaps. Is your air conditioner a window unit? Make sure to remove it in the winter or cover it in plastic. Do you have a broken window that you haven’t been able to close all the way? Time to call the repairman or seal it in plastic in the winter. Those gaps and spaces may seem tiny, but when it comes to tiny air particles that is all they need to escape and can end up costing you big.
Air Escapes in Any Kind of Weather
If you live in a part of the country that has cold winters, you understand the importance of weatherproofing your home before those cold winter gusts start coming in. No matter if you own your own home or are renting, even the newest buildings have spots where warm air leaks out and cool air sneaks in. It not only makes it hard to keep your home warm but is also hard on your wallet, not to mention the environment!
Taking these quick and easy steps before the extreme weather rolls in will help to keep your home the perfect temperature and save you from the increasing costs of energy.
