Save Money on Energy by Weatherproofing Your Home

Saving money on natural gas isn't just about adjusting your thermostat. Weatherproofing your home can have a significant impact on your energy usage—and your savings!

"Weatherproofing" refers to steps you can take to make your home better maintain its temperature, such as heating system improvements, attic and wall caulking, insulation, and weather-stripping. Contrary to what you might think, there are several small changes you can make that may result in significant savings.

For instance, if you have a crawlspace below your house, make sure you open your foundation vents each spring and close them each fall. You should also caulk or weather-strip along windows and doors, exhaust fans, and any other places where wires or pipes pass through walls—otherwise you might be paying to heat or cool your neighborhood! Instead of installing storm windows, you can use a 6-mil plastic to "make" storm windows by stretching it tightly on the inside of your normal windows, which can last through several seasons. And if you're doing landscaping around your home, especially with trees, carefully plan your planting to reduce your energy costs and increase indoor comfort.

These are low and no-cost measures, but you should consider other important adjustments that you can make to your heating and cooling systems. For instance, changing your thermostat setting costs nothing, takes only minutes to change, and can save as much on fuel bills as insulation, storm windows, or weatherstripping.

Maintaining your heating/cooling system regularly is as important as maintaining your car. Just as a tuned-up car will last longer and get more miles for every gallon of fuel, your heating system will give you longer service and more heat for every unit of fuel. A more efficient heating system—along with a few simple efficiency-boosting improvements—can save you a lot of money in the long run.