What do fans, plastic, motion sensors, laptops and shopping have in common?  Right!  They can save you money on your energy bill this winter.  I’ve got 5 easy and low cost ways to get it done that you might not have thought about.

One of the easiest ways to save money is to reduce the utility bills.  If you live in an area that gets very cold these tips are for you!

5 Easy Ways to Save on Energy this Winter

1. Run Your Ceiling Fan

This might sound counter productive, but running your ceiling fan in reverse can cut your heating costs by 10%!  Most fans have a handy switch and will change the direction from counter clockwise to clockwise.  This pushes the hot air that rises back down into the living space.

2. Turn it Down

If you haven’t already, turn down your water heater to 120 degrees or lower.  This saves you up to 10%, and can also save your children from accidental scalding.  Save even more by covering your water heater with an insulating blanket and increasing its efficiency.

What else can you turn down?  Your thermostat!  Buy some long johns for the family and wear a cozy sweater.  Drink some hot cocoa!    You can save 1% for every degree you lower it.

3.  Drafts are a Drag

They’ll lose up to 30% of your energy!  Stop them with draft guards, weatherstip tape and blackout curtains.  To prevent drafts through windows, use a plastic insulation kit that creates an invisible barrier to help your home hold heat in.

You can even use decor to keep your home draft free.  Sew your own decorative draft snake that goes at the foot of the door.  How about buying some hay bales to put on the outside of your home by the foundation to insulate, keep your floors warmer and create a country look?

4.  Turn it Off

It seems like common sense, but many people forget to turn off the lights when they’re not using them.  And make sure you’re using CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) for efficiency.  Both of these things will save you a significant amount.  Better yet, install motion sensors for lights in outdoor areas and the garage.  Besides saving energy, they also increase security.

There’s something more that you should turn off every night.  You’re probably on it right now.  It’s your computer.  While you’re sleeping, your computer is costing you about $90 a year!

5.  Shop!

I bet you never thought you could save big by shopping for your energy provider!  Head over to ChooseEnergy.com, type in your zip code and find an energy solution that fits your budget from the best suppliers out there.  You could save up to 25 percent by switching and they’ll make the switch for you!

It takes less than 10 minutes to find solutions that fit your needs, including information on solar power.  So, make sure you stop by ChooseEnergy.com to do a little energy shopping this year.

How do you save money on energy during the winter?

The post 5 Easy Ways to Save Money on Energy this Winter first appeared on True Aim.