MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR COLD WEATHER

Reducing air leaks can decrease your energy costs by up to 20% per year. If your house is well sealed, it will retain more heat and your furnace will run less. Finding draughts may require you to do some detective work. Check all the windows and doors, but also look for cracks in the foundation, walls and ceilings – you can do this by holding a tissue over each problem point to see if it flutters. Once spotted, close them up through weatherstripping or caulking.

Lowering the temperature by just one degree (1°C) for a minimum of eight hours can help reduce your bill by up to 2%. The best way to do so is by using a programmable thermostat, which avoids costly swings coming with manual adjustments. But make sure you have alternatives to keep you warm: throw on a thicker pyjamas, add an extra blanket to curl up under, or use a hot water bottle to heat up your bed before you go to sleep.

Hot water can account for up to 25% of your utility expenses. If you lower its temperature you can improve your energy usage and put savings in your pocket. The ideal range falls between 49 °C and 60 °C. You may try to set it at the lower bound. If the water is not warm enough for your showers, keep adjusting it upward until you settle on the perfect temperature.