Space heating accounts for the largest share of a home’s total energy consumption in the U.S., and the majority of that expenditure comes from burning natural gas.1 Even electrical demand during winter is growing fast, and utilities across the U.S. are already struggling––winter might even outpace summer in electricity demand in 25 years.
Dialing back your home’s heating demands can take a few different forms. First, there’s properly maintaining the system you already have in place so that it’s at its peak performance. Second, there’s pulling in other factors to help you stay toasty without cranking the thermostat. And lastly, there’s upgrading your entire system to a highly efficient heat pump. Let’s cozy up into the details:
How to optimize the heating system you have
If wholesale upgrading your heating system isn’t in the cards right now, you can still increase the efficiency of your current setup to help reduce energy consumption—as well as costs.
Install a smart thermostat
The best thing you can do to optimize energy usage is to only turn on the heat when you absolutely need it. Programmable thermostats let you create custom schedules based on your past usage patterns—and even control the system from afar via an app. When you’re away or sleeping, you can set a lower home temperature and turn it up a few notches when you’re home. The DOE says this can help save about 8% on your heating bills.
Service your system
Dirty filters and vents slow down air flow, which means the heating system has to burn extra energy to provide the same amount of temperature control. Take a look at your filters about once a month, and plan on changing them about every three. Proper maintenance also includes an annual checkup from a professional and putting eyes on the sealing around your ductwork to make sure no air’s sneaking in—or out.
How to stay warmer with less heat
If you are determined to use up less electricity to keep your home and yourself at a comfortable temperature this winter, there are a range of tactics to help you avoid blasting the heat.
Get a home energy audit
A home energy audit can help you identify where your home might be losing precious heat. Auditors then make recommendations about how to reduce these areas of leak inside your home. You can use these recommendations to air seal your home, add insulation in weaker spots, as well as control ventilation and moisture within your home.
Make sure your home’s well insulated
One of the best ways to cut heating demands is to insulate and air seal your home so that the toastiness you generate stays inside. Effective insulation can help you reduce your energy costs by about 11%. “It is all about maintaining that thermal envelope around your home,” says Megan Plog of the DOE’s Energy Star program. Proper insulation is like wrapping your home in a big comfy sweater, and air sealing is like putting on a windbreaker. You’ll want to hire a pro to help you with both.
Weatherproof your windows and doors
Drafts are a major culprit when it comes to chilly homes during the winter. You can easily install weatherstrips or beads of caulk in places where you feel breezes slipping through, especially around doors or windows. Door snakes can also be a great way to stop any drafts from entering your house. You don’t have to spend money on buying one though; they can be made out of old fabrics, pillow stuffing, and other insulating materials.
Install attic foil
John Semmelhack, home energy specialist and owner of building science consulting firm Think Little, says people often neglect their attics. A simple way to stop heat from flying out the roof is installing attic foil. These thin reflective surfaces help contain the heat within. These shiny layers can sit on the attic floor or nestle between the rafters. They’re quite cheap and easy to install; if you’re feeling handy this DIY guide can help you tackle the task.
Update your window treatments
The coverings you put on your windows are also a good defense against heat loss. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), about 30% of a home’s warmth escapes through windows. Cellular shades, which feature a honeycomb-like structure that traps air, are particularly good for the job: They allow in more light than blackout curtains and can stop up to 40% of heat loss in winter, according to the DOE. Even closing the drapes can stop around 10% of coziness from slipping away.
Plug your chimney
If you have a fireplace and a chimney, consider plugging it when not in use. One study found that San Antonio homes with fireplaces used 31% more energy in the winter.2 Chimney balloons are a relatively affordable upgrade, but there are also DIY options. If you use your fireplace regularly, the Department of Energy recommends keeping the damper closed when it’s not in use, getting your chimney insulated by a certified professional, and checking to make sure there aren’t any leaks in the damper seals.
Swap the direction of your ceiling fan
Think a ceiling fan is only meant to cool you down? If you turn your fan to run clockwise, this will better distribute heat. The counterclockwise spin produces a gentle updraft off the blades, which forces warm air hanging out near the ceiling down into the room.
Bundle up
Going out in a cold winter means layering up, so you can try doing a little bit more of that at indoors, too. Putting on a sweater, cozying up under a blanket, or switching to thicker socks can help keep you toasty without relying too much on the thermostat. The best material to wear is Icelandic wool, which has a very low thermal conductivity score.
Whole-home heating upgrades
In the U.S., homes are largely heated by two means: electric furnaces and gas furnaces. A gas furnace will burn oil or gas then use that heat to warm up the air or water and send it through vents or pipes throughout the house. Electric furnaces pass electricity over a resistor, which warms adjacent air that then passes through vents. But they are slightly less common than gas furnaces.
Electric heating systems
Joel Rosenberg, senior program manager at Rewiring America and author of the book Electrify Everything In Your Home, says people should switch to electric appliances that do not rely on fossil fuels, so as to not have “a small fossil fuel power plant in your house.” Using electric appliances is gentler on the planet than those that rely on fossil fuels––no matter how dirty the grid your appliances are juiced from may be. Even swapping to space- or baseboard heaters, which can control temperatures on a room-by-room basis, is a good place to start.
Heat pumps
The most efficient way to warm your home is through a heat pump, as they can be up to 400% more efficient than a traditional furnace. “By installing a heat pump, you’re not only upgrading your heater, but you are also getting air conditioning. It improves your thermal comfort throughout the year,” says Plog. If your home already uses a ducted or steam/radiator-based heating system, a heat pump can retrofit onto it. These climate-control systems work by circulating a refrigerant throughout the house that transfers heat from one place to another. Check out our guide to heat pumps to see if one is right for your home.
- Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), U.S. Energy Information Administration ↩︎
- The Flame Dilemma: A Data Analytics Study of Fireplace Influence on Winter Energy Consumption at the Residential Household Level, Energy Reports, Nov. 2016 ↩︎