Prepare for Fall and Turn Down the Thermostat

As summer turns into fall, many people are taken by surprise and immediately reach for that thermostat. However, this leads to a lot of energy usage that’s going to run up your bill and waste precious natural resources. Instead of turning up the thermostat, follow these basic tips for staying warm while keeping green.

Draft Proof Your Apartment

Drafts can make you feel cold in the fall, even while temperatures are pretty reasonable in most places. Draft stoppers and good weather stripping around your windows can make a big difference, allowing you to reach for a sweater instead of starting up the heat. If it’s already on, instead of opening windows to cool down, turn the thermostat down when you’re warm. And if you want fresh air for a while, turn the thermostat off to avoid accidentally heating up the great outdoors.

Will It Really Help?

Turning down the thermostat a few degrees might not seem like a big deal, which is why so many people are skeptical that it can really make a difference. However, according to the EPA, turning the thermostat down just one degree can help you save up to 4-percent on your energy bill. Going from 74 to 70 inside could save you a whopping 16-percent on your energy bill and really help you reduce your energy usage. Best savings? If you have a programmable thermostat, set it back a degree or two when you go to bed, and several when you are going to be at work. Even if you go out to dinner, try to dial it back and warm it up when you get home. No, it is not going to use more energy to heat things back up, and you won’t feel cold when you’ve just come inside.