These two wouldn’t be so loving if they had to worry about saving money on their utility bills.
Despite the conventional wisdom, there is at least one study out there that has concluded that opposites really don’t attract — at least when it comes to successful relationships.
If that’s so, then perhaps my marriage is on borrowed time because sometimes I feel like the Honeybee and I have very little in common. For example, she’s an extrovert, I’m an introvert. She can tear it up on the dance floor, and I’ve got two left feet. She’s gorgeous; I’m often mistaken for Quasimodo.
Then again, one of our biggest philosophical differences revolves around the best thermostat setting.
For example, in the summertime, I prefer the thermostat at 79 degrees Fahrenheit during the day; she likes it at 77 F.
Thankfully, we’ve managed to keep the peace by compromising, as all good marriages do. So in the summer, the thermostat is always set at 77 F.
5 Simple Tips for Saving Money On Your Utility Bills
Of course, comfort is highly subjective. Still, that didn’t stop Consumer Reports from declaring that the ideal waking-hour thermostat temperature setting when you’re at home is 78 F in the summer and 68 F in the winter.
But no matter what temperature you ultimately decide to set your thermostat to, there are several things you can do to make sure you’re saving money on your home utility bills.
1. Learn how to use a programmable thermostat. According to Energy Star, folks who know how to properly configure their programmable thermostat by regulating the temperature based upon whether they’re at home, asleep, or at work, can save as much as $200 annually. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, most people don’t.
2. Maintain your heating and cooling system. Duct leaks are among the costliest — yet easy to fix — heating and cooling system problems, so make sure your vents and ducts are clean and occasionally inspected for leaks that can lower the efficiency of your system. Change your air filters too with the change of seasons. And if you’ve got a room or two you rarely use, shut their doors and close off the vents.
3. Regulate the amount of sunlight entering your home. In the summertime, close blinds and drapes during the day to keep sunshine — and the heat — out of your home. In the winter, open south-facing window covers; that sunlight can still warm your house an extra degree or two. For even greater energy savings, replace your blinds and drapes with window shutters. We did a long time ago and I can honestly say they are, by far, one of the best things I ever bought.
4. Keep your fans running all year long. Most people know that fans work wonders in helping to keep a home cool. But they also keep your home warmer in the winter — thereby reducing your energy bill. When it gets cold outside, you can push warm air towards you that naturally collects at the ceiling by running the fan “backward” (clockwise) at low speed.
5. Seal your home. Check the caulk and weather stripping around all your doors and windows to ensure that your home is free from leaks and cold drafts.
It’s That Time Again …
A few weeks ago I reprogrammed our thermostat in preparation for winter.
The Honeybee, in no uncertain terms, let me know that she preferred the thermostat set at 70 F during the cold season. On the other hand, I’m one of those folks who likes it a bit toastier at 71 F.
I bet you can guess what our thermostat is set at right now. (Hint: it’s a number that’s nicely divisible by ten.)
Photo Credit: Pauly March
you are a very smart man to keep the honeybee happy!! happy wife happy life!
Don’t I know it, tracee!
We have the same exact temperature discussion in our house! Another hint to save money: we had extra insulation added to our attic last year. It has made a big difference in our heating/cooling bill.
You’re right! And that is a great tip. The only reason I left it off my list was because I wanted to keep my tips limited to the easiest ones to implement. 🙂
Tracee is right. You are a smart man to listen to Honeybee!
I set mine to 69 in the winter and I thought THAT was kind of extreme!
Summer time though I like my house cooler, so I keep it at 76.
We keep ours at 67 in winter during the day and 62 at bedtime.
Summer its 79.
winter: 68
summer: 78
I second your recommendation for window shutters. I noticed a big difference. Our house was warmer in winter and cooler in summer after we replaced our blinds.
As for thermostat setting, I set mine to 70 in winter and 78 in summer.
I am a HUGE proponent of window shutters. They not only make the house look refined, they really help control the temperature in the house.
Do you have an attic fan? I’ve considered tossing one in since we’ve got an extensive attic, but I don’t see how adding an electric fan is going to pay for itself in energy costs. Maybe if it’s solar?
Wife sets the temperature for us too, haha!
Yes, I installed an attic fan about eight years ago. I didn’t really notice any significant energy savings from it though. It’s real value is in keeping the attic much cooler in the summertime and preventing moisture build-up; I’m told that, in turn, helps extend the life of my roofing materials (especially the felt underlay beneath my roof tiles).
I just let my husband set it (at 72), then as I pass by, I readjust it to 69 when he is not looking. When the house cools down a bit, and before he starts to wonder why,I simply readjust it back to around 71 to let it warm back up again.
He just thinks it is the normal cycling of the furnace. Keeps the peace!!!!!!!
LOL! Very tricky, Diane. Thanks for sharing that with us. I promise I won’t say anything to your hubby.
(I wonder if I could get away with that? Probably not.)
Oh Len I love how you ‘compromise’. 🙂
Aww, thanks, Mindimoo. 🙂
(And since you put it that way, I’m going to be good and not change the thermostat when the Honeybee’s not looking.)
75 is way too cool for me in the summer. Way too cool. As I mentioned, I can’t really handle 77 either, but I put up with it.
(You know, I’m really toying with employing a bit of Diane’s subterfuge.)
I set mine to 68 in the winter and sometimes 65 when I leave for work during the day. No need to heat an empty apartment! lol
Absolutely. According to US Dept of Energy, you can save between 5 – 15% on your energy bill by setting your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees while you are away. That represents a savings of as much as 1 percent off your bill for every degree you scale back (assuming you setback the thermostat 15°F), and a half-percent off your bill on the low end (10°F).
Len,
I understand your compromise. As I tell my newly married son, pick your battles, and pick them carefully!
Exactly, Dr. Dean. And may they be few and far between!
I forgot who said this, but I recall reading a book in which the author describes compromising with his wife over the number of children they had:
“She wanted four, and I wanted one. So we compromised on four.”
Exactly, Paula!
We don’t have A/C so the summer it goes to whatever (usually around 72ish) but during the winter we have it at 65 during active time and 60 while sleeping.
Haha, I liked your idea of “compromising”. 🙂
I’ll let the temperature drop to 64F during the day and let it hover around 66-68F, but when we watch a movie or something and want to be more comfortable, then I’ll boost it up to 72. I prefer the heat over the cold so I don’t run AC until the temperatures start to surpass 85 or so.
Unfortunately the SO is not keen on the idea of blinds due to visual clutter, so there is too much heat gain/heat loss to the windows.
That form of “compromise” has its pluses and minuses, to be sure.
As for me, I actually think drapes and hanging blinds look more “cluttering” than shutters. Shutters are very clean, IMO. But that’s just me.
I remember years ago when my mother and father fought over the thermostat .This was because menopause had set in and hot flashes were a common occurrence. I would visit and chuckle at Dad being bundled up while Mom was in a tee shirt. Dad told me my time would come.
Twnety years later and I had my own battle of Hoth going on.
In the summer, 77-78 at night, 78-79 in the day. I run a fan.
In the winter, 58-62 at night, and 62-65 in the day. I use layers of covers. If the heat runs too much, the air dries out. The dry air activates some breathing issues I have developed.