5 simple ways to reduce your gas and heating consumption

"Put another sweater on!"

Person wearing a sweater while holding a mug

Growing up, you might have been told to wear more clothes in the house during winter so your family could save money on the heating bill or reduce your energy consumption.

But piling on more sweaters isn't the only solution!

Some simple changes to your living space and habits will keep your energy consumption to a more sustainable level.

Turn The Heat Down

The best home temperatures for energy savings are:

Winter: 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit
Summer: 25.5 degrees Celsius/78 degrees Fahrenheit

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You can save even more, as much as 10% a year in heating and cooling costs, by adjusting thermostat temperatures just 4-5.5 degrees Celsius or 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit lower for 8 hours a day.

You can turn your heat down:

When sleeping

Woman sleeping on a bed covered in a white blanket

When not at home

Quiz

Leia works from home every day and wants to save money on her heating bill. When could turn the heat down? Select all that apply.

When she's in bed

When she's eating breakfast

When she visits her family

When she's out with friends

Did you know?

Though you can manually set your thermostat daily, automated thermostats that are programmable or “smart” help you achieve greater energy savings, especially if you’re away from home.

Simple Home Hacks

Hang thick or insulated drapes

This helps keep heat from escaping through older or less reliable windows.

Use window films

Like the above recommendation, this can also help to keep heat in, but be mindful of which windows you cover, as you won't be able to easily open them while the film is over the window.

Close room doors

Closing doors prevents cross-draft between rooms and keeps the heat isolated in whatever room you're in.

Place draft guards at doors

Placing a barrier below doors keeps heat from escaping and cold from getting in.

Keep Moving

Exercise can keep your body's core temperature elevated for as little as 20 minutes or as long as several hours after a workout.

Not only will this help you get in better shape but you'll feel warmer for an extended period of time.

Drink Up

Not the boozy kind.

Drinking hot beverages such as coffee, tea or simply hot water will go a long way in helping you to stay warm.

In some parts of the world, cold water is never consumed because it's believed to lead to a cold body which will lead to illness.

It may seem strange to drink hot water but once you start this habit it will become a normal routine.

Move Out

If you're able to find alternative housing, consider these things that can help go a long way in reducing your heating consumption.

Live in a newer building or house

Older buildings tend to lose heat in the winter due to a lack of proper insulation.

Attic apartment with large, angeled windows lproviding lots of sunlight.

Where's the sun?

When finding a place to live, you should keep in mind the direction your windows face. You'll get more direct sunlight if your windows face south.

Windows

Too many can lose heat and not enough won't provide heat. Also, older windows will not be as reliable.

Quiz

If you want to reduce your heating consumption, you should (select all that apply):

Find a place with southern exposure

Use another blanket when sleeping

Drink warm water

Live in an old house

Did you know?

Some examples of materials used to insulate older homes include sawdust, balsa wood, and shredded newspapers.

Take Action

It's possible to stay warm and still save money! You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on home upgrades to have a more sustainable living space. You can make simple adjustments to your home, or push the envelope with lifestyle changes.

GIF of Doc from 'Back to the Future' with 'Ready!' on the screen.