A good night's sleep depends on a comfortable bedroom. You can still get all the comfort you want and cut back on energy use with these steps.
- Close heating vents or radiators in rooms you don't use. However, if you have a heat pump system, leave all doors and vents open to ensure proper airflow.
- Use draft guards at the bottom of any doors that open into unairconditioned or unheated areas.
- Use ceiling fans for cooling.
- Use reversible ceiling fans to push warm air downwards and keep rooms warmer.
- Lower your thermostat at night and use more blankets in the winter.
- Try to keep closet doors shut. Clothes or stored items don't need to be heated or cooled.
- Keep heating registers and air vents clear of obstacles and make sure you clean or replace furnace filters regularly.
- Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
- It costs $75 - $100 per year to keep an average waterbed warm. You can reduce this expense by making up your waterbed with a comforter, and by insulating the sides.
- On sunny days, open south facing drapes and let the sun in, a natural source of heat. If you have large windows that don't receive direct sun, keep the drapes closed.
- Close your drapes and blinds during the night.
