Cool Ways to Stay Warm: Winter Energy Saving Tips

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Jeffrey Finney Full Time Sales Representative

Keller Williams Energy

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Direct: 905.243.8205

Office: 905-723-5944

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Volume 3 Issue 12

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When the winter months approach, the instinct to bundle up and hibernate sets in. But when the power bills rise, you may find that keeping cozy can be costly. But with a few energy-saving tips, you can not only stay warm but lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. First, consider the maintenance of your heating system. If you have a ther-mostat, set it to 68 degrees. Setting the thermostat higher than this adds an average two to five percent increase in energy costs for every degree. Consider lowering the temper-ature further at night, and if you are going away for an extended period of time, set the thermostat to 60 degrees to prevent straining the system on your return.

Cleaning and replacing furnace filters when recommended will increase efficiency and reduce costs. So will an annual furnace tune-up from a professional. Give the same attention to air filters and heating vents throughout your home. Clean out the dust and make sure they are not blocked to increase air flow.

If you have a fireplace, close the damper tight to keep out cold air. Next, you can check windows and doorways for leaks. Check problem areas and caulking for any signs of gaps or cracks. The second way to check for leaks is a pressurization test. To perform this test, choose a cool, windy day and turn off any water heaters and gas-burning furnaces. Shut all windows, doors, fireplace dampers, and exhaust fans. Next, light an incense stick and pass it around the edges of common leak areas. Wherever the smoke wavers or is drawn in or out of the room, there is a draft. You can also detect leaks by dampening your hand and feeling for cool air. Seal, caulk, or use weather-stripping on any leaks you

discover.

Thousands of dollars in energy costs can be attributed to heat escaping from poorly insulated homes. Taking simple steps to insulate windows and doors with inexpensive insulation will significantly lower your energy costs. A storm window is also a powerful shield against the cold. Keep your curtains shut at night to keep in heat, but open them wide on sunny days to take advantage of solar energy.

A humidifier will also help your room feel more comfortable without turning up the thermostat. So will adding carpet to any bare floors. In addition, you should reverse the direction of your ceiling fan during the winter months to keep the warm air circulating downward. Refer to the owner’s manual, but generally, the fan should move in a clockwise direction to push heat down. On the other hand, exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms pull hot air from the room. Use them in very short inter-vals during the winter months.

The hot water heater is a major consumer of energy in your home. Set the temperature below 120° in the winter, and make an effort to reduce hot water use. Consider using a low-flow shower head, and washing laundry with cold water uses up to 90 percent less energy. Also, your dishwasher will typically use less hot water than hand-washing dishes, but turn off the heat cycle and allow the dishes to air-dry for additional energy savings. If you are worried about the potential for freezing water pipes because you’re not using as much heat and hot water, wrap them with a low-cost foam wrap.

Finally, think about using energy-saving light bulbs in your home. Fluorescent lighting uses significantly less energy than incandescent lighting, and a huge saver during the holiday season is the use of fun and colorful LED lights. These use 90 percent less energy than incandescent lighting.

Source: www.homeadvisor.com

Jeffrey Finney Full Time Sales Representative

Keller Williams Energy Real Estate Brokerage Direct: 905.243.8205 Office: 905.723.5944

Email: Jeffrey.N.Finney@gmail.com

WWW.JEFFREYFINNEY.COM

Market Stats

Durham average selling price continues to increase

year-over-year

DURHAM REGION - December 6, 2017 Durham Region

Association of REALTORS® (DRAR) President Dennis Rob-

erts reported 879 residential transactions in November

2017, a 4 per cent increase from October 2017. “The bal-

ance between supply and demand for homes continues to

be very tight as we inch closer to the end of 2017,” stated

Roberts.

November saw a slight decrease in listings of 1632 from 1698 in October. There is large increase year over year from

November 2016, where there was 1154 listings, an increase of 47 per cent. 2016 did not represent the historical norm.

Durham continues to offer a balanced market where both buyers and sellers have the opportunity to complete the

housing transactions without multiple offers, while still enjoying an increase in selling price over last year. November

2017’s average selling price was $574,901 which represents a slight increase over the same month in 2016 at $574,

694. The relaxed market is also supported by the number of days on market. The average days on market for Novem-

ber 2017 was 23 days, in comparison to November 2016 where it was only 13 days.

“Durham Region is seeing development in residential, commercial, and land, as well as the development through

transportation and technology projects, all in which is stimulating new investment interest,” says Roberts . “Durham

Region is an affordable and prospering place to live.”

Roberts also added, “I am very proud of Durham’s REALTORS® who came together to raise over $20,000 at our Annual

Christmas Dinner and Charity Auction for DRAR’s 2017 Charity of Choice, Hearth Place”. Hearth Place is a Cancer

support center for patients and their families who offer peer support, information, wellness programs and a resource

center. All funds raised thru DRAR are committed to their new End of Life Room.

To read the full Market Watch Report, visit my website at www.JeffreyFinney.com