Does the thought of your heating bill make you shiver? If you live in an apartment, you may think there isn’t much you can do to reduce you heating bill this winter. However, even those living in cities with colder climates, like apartment dwellers in Columbus or Seattle, can make small changes to cut back on expensive heating costs. Here are a few ways to save on costs with little time and effort.
Lower the thermostat
While coming home to a warm and cozy apartment is nice, running the heat all day when you aren’t home is a quick way to run up your utilities bill. Try turning down your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees if you’re going to be out of the house for more than a couple of hours. You can always turn it back up once you get home.
Be smart about your windows
Windows are a major reason for heat loss in your apartment, even if they are properly closed and sealed. However, you can still use them to your advantage. By keeping blinds and curtains open during the day, you get natural sunlight and warmth for your apartment. After sunset, close blinds and curtains to help prevent heat loss.
Cook at home more
If you don’t already, try your hand at cooking meals with the oven and stovetop. Though it seems simple, actually cooking your food can add quite a bit of warmth to your apartment without increasing the utilities bill. Plus, you can save a lot of money that might have been spent on take-out.
Defend against drafts
If you’re dealing with door and window drafts, a few things from the local home improvement store can help protect your apartment from the cold. With plastic sheeting and weather stripping, you can not only keep cold drafts from coming in, but also keep the warm air from going out.
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