Winter is coming…
…but for us, the most threatening part about that is the spike in heating costs. The same goes if you’re reading this in the summer. How often do we have to choose between constantly sweating in our living room or turning on the A/C (& then sweating the cost)? At Lykens Companies, we’ve had plenty of experience with these issues and have some advice to share (call us experts if you insist). Here are 10 tips that we’ve used to save money on our own heating & cooling costs.
1. The Open Window Approach
Whenever you can, be sure to turn off your A/C and opt for an open window. You’ll save yourself cash and won’t have to worry about your A/C unit freezing over. An open window on each side of a room can create a relaxing cross-breeze and invite great, natural smells (granted that you don’t live next to the city dump).
2. For Summer Nights…
At night, opt to leave your thermostat alone as much as you can. It can be tempting to crank the A/C on high in the summers. Instead, try drinking a cold glass of water before bed. We’ve even tried these Iso-Cool Memory Foam Pillows as a way to relax and keep cool in the summer heat.
3. …and Winter Nights, Too
Likewise, those who fear morning chills tend to turn the heat all the way up to avoid cold winter mornings. Choose flannel sheets and slippers over cranking your heat on and you’ll save yourself a ton of money.
4. Watch Out for Money Vacuums
Don’t leave your bathroom and kitchen fan on all the time. Not only are they using your electricity, but they’re also stealing expensive air!
5. Don’t Just Decorate, Insulate!
What you put on your floors, walls, and windows can make a bigger difference than you think. The more heavy fabric you fill a room with, the less cold air comes in and the less heat goes out. This doesn’t mean that you have to make your bedroom look like the inside of a pillow fort, either. A Mexican blanket can be a stylish, vibrant, and cost effective way to insulate your room.
6. Block Out the Sun!
No, we aren’t suggesting that you live like a vampire. In fact, we hope that you let as much natural light in your home as you can…when you’re there. But in the heat of summer, close your blinds as you leave for work. Letting the sun glare into your apartment all day will raise the temperature and kick the A/C into overdrive. If you’re in the market to block out the sun, check out the best window coverings from Consumer Reports.
7. Soak Up the Sun!
What? The opposite advice? You guessed it! You want to block out the sun in the summer and let it in during the winter. Keep your south facing window coverings open in the daytime to let in sunshine and naturally warm your house.
It won’t take your costs to $0, but every little thing helps and adds up.
8. Clean Means Green
It’s time to break out the old duster and make sure that your vents are cleared and that air can get through. As dust builds up, it blocks your most expensive air (whether heated or cooled) from being blown as efficiently as possible. The same goes for your furnace filter. If you’re a home owner, it’s on you to change it out. Luckily, if you’re a Lykens tenant, you can count on our awesome maintenance team to change it at just the right time!
9. Leaking Air Means Leaking Cash
If you know of an air leak—a drafty window or a door that just won’t shut—and haven’t done anything about it, you might as well start flushing money down the toilet, too. Whether it’s during the summer or the winter, saving a good amount of money can be as easy as putting a towel underneath your door.
Are you a Lykens tenant who’s noticed recent draftiness? We want to know! Submit a maintenance request and our dedicated team will take care of it.
10. The Old School Method
Some of us might remember helping our parents blow-dry plastic over the windows. Believe it or not, this is one of the most effective ways to save money in the winter, especially when owning or renting an older property. Though they’re often beautiful, old windows are prone to leaks. Rather than try and fill in spaces with an ugly caulk, opt for a transparent film to cover windows. It’s cheap as can be and Lowe’s offers a variety of sizes. Keep heat in and winter out!
So there you have it, 10 ways we’ve saved money on our heating and cooling costs. We won’t tell you that your costs will disappear, but we know that a dollar here and a dollar there can make a big difference in the long run. When you’re blow-drying plastic film to your window, imagine what that extra cash could buy and make might make the whole process more enjoyable.
