One way to go green is to lower your thermostat, but a lot of people don’t want to do that because they don’t like being cold. Sure, you could run around the house all the time in a snuggie, but there are other ways to help winterize your home and still be green.
One easy way is to use a draft snake. These are the circular things that you put at the bottom of your door. You can buy cut little draft snakes at various places, but you can also make your own. You can make these from scraps of fabric filled with sand, cotton, or even kitty litter. Too much trouble and you don’t like to sew? Make your own by rolling up a towel. It is estimated that as much as 30% of your energy use can be wasted on drafts.
Another thing my husband likes to do is run the ceiling fans in reverse. Now, I don’t particularly care for this option because I like having the air blow on me (we live in on the East Coast, so it is rarely really cold here). We know heat rises and by reversing the fan, you can circulate that warmer back down to the living space.
If you can afford it, consider installing storm doors and windows to help decrease drafts. This can increase your energy efficiency by almost 50%. And, if you purchase efficient doors and windows, you can quality for a federal tax credit that covers 30% of the cost, which can mean a savings of $1,500 for you.
If you are not quite ready to shell out the money for storm doors and windows, spend just a few dollars and get a window insulation kit. This almost invisible plastic, which is placed on the windows, also helps eliminate drafts and helps you keep the house warmer.