Heating makes up half the energy bill in most Nova Scotian homes. That makes it the single largest use of energy for most of us. But we can all find ways to heat our homes more efficiently. To begin:
- Better insulation and draft proofing will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient by helping to keep your valuable heat inside.
- A regular tune-up of your furnace and boiler will ensure they operate at peak efficiency. Keep your furnace filter clean. A dirty one delivers less air.
- Avoid heating spaces in your home that are not insulated like garbage areas, crawl spaces, attics or storage sheds.
- Avoid heating unused rooms by closing doors.
- Turn down the heat when you're sleeping or away from home.
- When installing new windows or replacing old ones, consider installing energy-efficient windows (Energy Star Windows), which reduce heat loss and are of higher quality than standard code windows.
- Close fireplace chimney dampers between fires to keep warm air in during the winter and out during the summer.
- Open curtains during the day to let the warmth of the sun in, and close the curtains at night to help keep the heat in.