Regardless if you are living in a cold area or in a region where it gets cold only a few weeks each year such as where I live, here in Northern California, tips for energy conservation during cold weather are always welcome.

Today, TECO, the Tampa Electrical company had some familiar but helpful advice on how to conserve energy during cold weather.  They recommend:

1. Lower your thermostat to 65-68 degrees, no higher than 70 degrees and keep the temperature constant.
2. With a heat pump, limit the activation of the supplemental heat strip by making minor, periodic adjustments to the thermostat.
3. Keep the fan of your central heating unit set to “Auto.”
4. Minimize use of major appliances during cold snaps.
5. Turn off unnecessary lighting. Consider replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s).
6. Lower the thermostat on your electric water heater to 120-140 degrees and limit hot water usage (dishes, laundry, bathing, shaving, etc.).
7. Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed and make sure they are properly sealed. Check the seals around the perimeter of the doors for cracking or detachment. Set thermostat(s) at proper temperatures to achieve best energy efficiency.
8. Keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use.
9. Inspect air filters regularly (replace them monthly).
10. Reverse your ceiling fans from summer to winter setting.

I would add to that list “insulation.”  Make sure that your home is adequately insulated, especially if it’s an older home.  I recently changed the windows of my 60 year old house and bought high efficiency windows.  I also took advantage of a tax credit for installing energy efficient windows. Insulating walls and the roof/attic are also important to help keep the heat inside the house.  On my end, I went as far as insulating the floor.  With all these changes I experienced a huge difference in my heating (gas) bill – about 40% less during the coldest months compared to the year before.

Have you been able to conserve energy during cold season and if so, what are your tips to save even more energy?