Heating your home when you live in a cold climate uses a bit more energy than normal. However, there are some things you can do to keep your costs down. You also need to remember that your appliances factor into your decisions, you can create a home heating plan that is cost-effective, and you can even add to your home to keep it warm during the harsh winter in Alberta. Continue reading if you are concerned about your energy spending this winter.
Shop Around
If you are shopping for Alberta natural gas, you need to look at the companies in the area, their rates, and any deals they are offering. The deals that you get from these companies will help you save money initially, or you can get a fixed rate that lasts all year.
You also need to find a company that will offer you incentives to conserve energy. You might find a company that buys back renewable energy you produced on the property, or you might choose a company that reduces their rates during off-peak hours.
Buy A Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat helps keep your home at a moderate temperature during the day. If you turn the temperature up too much, the house will get too hot. You have wasted energy overheating the house, and you will need to turn the heat back on when it gets cold again.
If you set the thermostat to a moderate temperature, the house will never be unbearably cold. Plus, you do not need to change the temperature at night. You can bundle up when you get home, turn the temperature down at night to save money, and raise the temperature a small amount in the morning.
Make Sure The House Is Insulated And Sealed Properly
When you are trying to remain comfortable in the winter, you must make sure the house is insulated and sealed properly. Weatherstripping around the windows and doors helps keep cold air out. Plus, you can plug holes around the exterior of the house with a can of spray insulation. If you feel a draft in the house, you are losing money.
You may need to install new insulation in parts of the house that are not insulated, or you could add extra insulation to spaces like the attic and basement.
Use Alternative Energy
Some people can change over to alternative energy options like solar power and wind energy. If you are using a geothermal heating unit, you get heat from the core of the Earth. Alternative energy is produced using the devices that were installed around your home. You do not need to worry about how much energy you are using, and you can sell excess energy back to the power company.
If you have an electric heater or electric appliances, your solar panels and wind turbine will create enough energy for those devices. You can open your blinds and curtains to allow natural light into each room. The sun can heat each room in the middle of the day, and you do not need to worry about turning up the heat when the sun is shining.
Change To Gas Appliances
You can change to gas appliances if you want to save money in the winter. You will spend less money on gas every month. You can use your gas appliances during off-peak hours to save even more money, or you could install a gas and on your property.
The gas tank is inexpensive to fill, and you can schedule refills during the season. Gas appliances that are fed by a tank on the property will use less gas if you use them at night. A change to gas appliances makes the house more efficient, and you will recover the money that was spent on these appliances.
Conclusion
Keeping costs low during the winter in Alberta is easy when you change to gas appliances or produce your own energy on the property. Most people who make a change to their energy consumption will wash their clothes and dishes during off-peak hours, and you these homeowners should open the blinds to allow heat from the sun to warm each room. Use your thermostat to keep the house at a moderate temperature, and make sure the house is sealed and insulated before winter comes.
