Calling All Tightwads: Let’s Save the Low-Tech Way

There are so many things to love about the wintertime: ski trips to Vermont, snowball fights, sledding, hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire, holidays with loved ones, ridiculously high energy bills…wait, scratch that last one. It’s going to be a tough winter ahead with rising energy costs so let’s look at some uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive options to reduce energy consumption.

1. Most of us are aware of the important benefits of home insulation, but there are a number of other ways to keep old man winter out of your home.

Door jamb weather stripping. It installs like regular molding but has a rubber-sealing gasket along one edge. Once applied, the door will make the same suction-like seal breaking noise as when you open the refrigerator.
Removable caulking. It installs like regular caulk around all windows but removes like a string come warm weather.
Window Insulation. This product (essentially a thin piece of plastic) is an amazing help with older homes and their typically leaky windows. You apply it to the windows and use a hair dryer to help adhere it. There is a decor issue—the plastic sheet goes inside and not out—but the focus here is on savings.
Make sure door and window storms are in good repair and down and latched tightly.
If you have an attic, check the door and make sure it closes fully otherwise heat will be sucked out through the roof. Attic doors should be weather sealed and completely air tight. Depending on the installation, some also have extra insulation attached to the back, or you can purchase an attic door cover made of rigid foam or plastic. In the summer months, hot air rises and is trapped in your attic. You can save money by installing a good attic fan. The new models use little energy and help save on cooling costs by drawing the hot air out.
Cap that chimney or at least close it off with the damper and or doors while not in use. The chimney works almost like a vacuum in the cold weather, sucking warm air out of the house. Also have your chimney cleaned and inspected (approximately $150); this will let the fire draw better and wood burn more efficiently. Make a good habit of checking the flu and making sure that it is closed.

2. Go fluorescent. It’s a quick energy-saving fix and they make them in many styles: standard, spot, recess, task, outdoor, colored, bug free. They use just a fraction of energy output of a standard bulb and outlast them by many times over. Home Depot sells a good natural day light bulb.

3. Blast your water heater. This is one of those trade secrets not usually publicized because it takes business away. The process takes little time and helps your whole hot water system function more efficiently. A good handyman can flush your tank which will clean out the sediments that accumulate from our reservoir water system and help extend the life of your tank.

4. Install low-flow toilet bowls to help conserve water (low-flow toilets use 1.6/gallons per flush as opposed 3.5 to 7 gallons for regular toilets). Some of the new models offer number 1 (half-flush) and 2 (full-flush) buttons.

5. Invest in a programmable thermostat. You get to input at what times the heat goes on and to what temperature. This is a good time for consensus building among family members! Keeping the thermostat at or below 68 is a great start and minimizing the time it is hottest will also reap savings. Also it’s important not to set temperature too low as it actually costs more money to reheat a cold house. Better to set a minimum temperature around 60 degrees and go up to 68 for most efficiency. There’s always good old body heat too—that’s free and lots of fun with the right company.

This blog was put together with expert knowledge from:
—Carolyn Okay, Tash Properties/Vintage Home Restoration (914) 630-4081; cbokay@verizon.net. Also a real estate agent for Sotheby’s International Realty in Larchmont (914) 833-5952
—Don Holohan, BDW Construction/Northern Westchester Handyman (914) 879-3564 or (914) 242-0834 belladrywall@optonline.net.