Colder weather often brings higher home energy bills, even in areas where winters are relatively mild. Preparing your home and adjusting a few everyday habits may help reduce energy waste, control costs and keep your home comfortable throughout the season.

Some energy-saving steps take only a few minutes, while others may require a modest upfront investment that could provide benefits for months or even years.

First, track your energy costs

It can be easier to know where you are going if you know where you have been. Reviewing your current and past energy use can help you estimate upcoming bills, notice unusual changes and avoid some energy cost surprises.

To better understand your current energy costs in your house, condominium or apartment, start by reviewing past usage:

• Review your recent energy bills, either from paper statements or your online utility account.
• Compare your current usage with your last few bills and compare season to season, such as spring compared to summer.
• Track total usage for the current billing period.
• Calculate your average daily energy use by dividing a month’s usage by the number of days in the month.
• Use that average to estimate what your next bill may look like.
• Think about whether specific activities, travel, guests, appliances, tools or weather changes may have affected monthly energy use, either lowering it or causing it to spike.
• Identify household habits that could be adjusted to lower future costs.

After reviewing your energy use, the next step is deciding what changes may be practical for your home and lifestyle.

How to help cut winter energy costs

The Delta Community blog has shared seasonal energy-saving ideas before. Here are seven additional tips that could help lower your energy costs this winter.

1. Consider a programmable or smart thermostat. A programmable or smart thermostat can help manage heating more efficiently by adjusting the temperature on a set schedule. For example, it can lower the temperature when no one is home, during the night when people are sleeping under blankets, or while the household is away for several days. It can also raise the temperature again before everyone returns home or wakes up. Some smart thermostats can be controlled with a mobile phone app, touch controls or voice commands. That convenience can make it easier to manage heating without needing to remember every adjustment.
2. Wash full loads of laundry and use cold water when possible. Washing machines and dryers use energy to power motors, heat water and dry clothes. One simple household energy-saving habit is to run full loads whenever possible. Running fewer laundry cycles can help reduce water and electricity use. It may also lessen wear on both machines over time. When appropriate for the type of clothing, wash clothes in cold water. Cold-water washing can help preserve clothing colors and save energy by reducing the need to heat water. Also consider air drying some laundry indoors or outside when practical. Air drying can save dryer energy, but know that drying a few items indoors may add a small amount of moisture to dry winter air.
3. Check attic and wall insulation for gaps that could be filled. Effective home insulation helps keep warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer. That means insulation can support energy savings throughout the year. Inspect your attic, especially along edges and corners, for missing or uneven insulation. Look for gaps, thin areas or open cavities that may need attention. Before adding insulation, research the type and amount that may be appropriate for your home, or consider asking a qualified home improvement professional for guidance. Adding insulation can sometimes be a relatively simple home improvement project, depending on the location and materials. It may also be worth checking whether exposed plumbing pipes need insulation, especially in areas vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
4. Put holiday lights on a timer. Indoor and outdoor holiday lights can make a home look cheerful during winter, but they still use electricity—although light-emitting diode (LED) lights can be very energy-efficient. Consider using timers or smart plugs so seasonal lights turn on and off automatically. That way, lights can be visible during your preferred evening hours and turned off during the day or late at night when fewer people are likely to see them. A timer can make holiday lighting easier to manage while also helping limit unnecessary electricity use.
5. Add rugs to hard floors. Hard floors such as wood, tile, stone, linoleum or similar materials can feel cold during winter, especially when walking barefoot. Area rugs can make rooms feel warmer and may help reduce some heat loss through the floor by serving as insulation. A rug does not need to be thick to make a room feel more comfortable, but adding an insulating rug pad underneath may improve warmth and comfort. Rugs can also make a room look more attractive while providing a practical winter benefit. In some rooms, decorative quilts or wall hangings may also add a cozy feeling and could provide a small amount of extra insulation.
6. Turn off computers and other electronics when they are not in use. Computers, monitors, printers, televisions, sound equipment and other home electronics continue using electricity when they are left on for long periods. While many newer devices are more energy efficient than older models, they still consume power. If you are not using your desktop computer, laptop or monitor for much of the day—or overnight—consider shutting it down or using an energy-saving sleep mode. Smart power strips that can monitor and adjust electricity can also help reduce energy use from devices that draw small amounts of electricity even when they appear to be turned off. Many electronics produce heat while operating, but they should not be treated as a useful heating source. It is usually more practical to turn off unused equipment and let your home’s heating system do its job.

Small lifestyle changes in the home can add up to measurable savings

Cutting home energy costs usually does not depend on one big change. Often, it comes from combining several smaller actions that reduce waste and make a home run more efficiently.

Tracking energy use, adjusting heating schedules, managing appliances carefully, improving insulation and turning off unused devices can all contribute to significant energy cost savings during chilly season.

Interested in more ideas for managing home costs?

For more information that may help you manage your costs and finances, look into the free Delta Community Financial Education Center webinars on a range of practical, “how to” topics that could potentially help save you money and better manage your income, financial assets and life.

Please visit the Financial Education Center’s Events & Seminars page to review and register for its monthly on-demand webinars.

The Credit Union’s blog also has more information that could be educational and helpful for managing home expenses, preparing for seasonal changes and making thoughtful financial decisions throughout the year.