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Winterize your home to save a lot more money than you’d think. Did you know that over 40% of your energy bill goes to heating or cooling? So here are 10 easy steps to winterize and save money while helping the environment as well:

1. Don’t wait until winter. If you do most of these things between Labor Day and Halloween while the weather is still relatively nice, it makes it a lot easier to get motivated and get done. Some of these steps will help you save money year round as well.

2. Keep your furnace’s filter clean. This helps your furnace work more efficiently and helps keep your air fresher. If you have central air, you should already be doing this monthly because it helps your A/C run more efficiently as well. A simple reusable filter that you clean will really help you save money because you only have to buy it once.

3. Clean your gutters. This keeps melting snow from seeping under shingles which helps your roof last longer.

4. Replace worn, cracked or torn weather-stripping around doors and windows. Keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Use a small piece of plastic wrap or an incense stick to find drafts. Use caulk to seal windows. If the windows are really bad, have them replaced with energy-efficient models. If that’s not economically feasible, get plastic sheeting and tape it around the windows. You can get the kind that you warm with a hair dryer to make it clear and smooth.

5. Check your insulation, especially in your attic. Make sure it’s thick enough. If you’re unsure, it might be a good idea to add some. It’s better to have too much than not enough.

6. Make sure your thermostat is efficient and has fresh batteries, if needed. You can replace an old thermostat with a new programmable unit that controls the temperature for you. It can lower the temperature during the day when no one is home, and at night when everyone is asleep.

7. Set your thermostat lower: For every degree you lower your thermostat, you’ll save about 3% on your heating bill. You can lower it just at night by getting a programmable thermostat.

8. If your house has storm windows, install them before it snows. A little too early is better than putting them up when it’s really cold outside.

9. Make sure you have an energy efficient furnace or central air unit. If your furnace is more than 10 or 15 years old, it’s about time to replace it with a more efficient unit. It may seem like a lot of money, but it will pay for itself in savings over time. Get your furnace serviced and have the ducts cleaned every year before it gets cold. This can prevent problems and fix leaks early.

10. Install energy efficient blinds. Open the ones that face the south and east during the day to let in the sun’s warmth, then close them at night to keep the heat in.

Most of these cost saving measures are very inexpensive. If you can spend $5 to save $20 that’s a very good return on your investment. For a little bit of your time and money, you will definitely reap the rewards for quite some time.

Neece, like everyone else, enjoys the finer things in life. She researches and discovers the best things available so you can find the luxuries you deserve as well as gifts for those you love all in one convenient place. http://www.authenticindulgences.com/