A cozier valentines day starts with a warm home

1. Employ a programmable thermostat. There are some remarkable thermostats out there such as the Honeywell Prestige thermostat that do amazing things. You can program it to lower the temperature when you go to work and raise the temperature when you are about to get home. Use a special remote to program the temperature based on the room you are in, not the room the thermostat is installed in. They even have a little outdoor module that can allow your inside thermostat to display outside conditions, and a phone app to program the thermostat remotely. This is the modern way to use technology to lower your energy consumption without compromising your comfort when you are home.
2. Seal around your windows and doors. This is easy to do, and will help your home keep the heat in. Caulk, spray foam or use weather stripping and it will up your comfort and reduce heating costs. You’ll likely spend less than $100 on caulking, plus you’ll need a ladder. If you have a single paned or leaky window, you might want to replace it. They let the heat right out of your house. Insulated frame, Low E, windows with double pane glass will greatly improve your warmth and keep your use of fuel for heating lower.
3. Add insulation. According to the Department of Energy, “Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes.” And according to their EnergyStar website, you could save up to 10% of your total annual energy bill just by sealing and insulating. With so many older houses in the Seattle area, many have no insulation or have some only in rooms that were remodeled. This not very sexy heat saver gets ignored when homes are bought and sold too.

Washington Energy Services has Home Energy Specialists that can help you identify options to make your home cozier and energy efficient. Call 800-398-4663 and get a free no pressure estimate.