With colder-than-normal temperatures being forecast during the winter months, many homeowners are searching for alternatives to reduce the cost with heating. Here are some of the best methods to keep your family warm during the coldest parts of the season in any location.

Seeing The Light

Opening or raising window blinds allows sunshine to come into the rooms that heat up those areas. Sunlight is absolutely free to use if you have areas in your home where you can use it to your advantage. A home that faces the rising sun can benefit from capturing the heat build-up from sunlight for several hours each day during morning hours. In the late afternoons, that same home can catch additional heat build-up from the sun as it sets in the western sky.Using the Sun and solar panels is another cheap alternative to rising energy costs over the long term. Panels can be purchased that are mobile and easily moved to areas around the home where you might need that energy source. An array of panels can be purchased to provide free solar energy to your home. An investment in both solar panel technology and infrared heaters can give any homeowner years of warm, safe heat for free directly from the sun. The advantages of solar energy are that it can be used for other electrical needs such as cooking, using appliances and operating home lighting. According to U.S. Government statistics, more people are becoming aware of the advantages of solar energy and savings. Homeowners can cut electricity use in half by the installation and use of solar heating according to U.S. statistics. Many people utilize solar power to completely eliminate the need for traditional electricity from the power grid. This can save thousands of dollars per year wasted on electricity that can pay for the purchase of solar panel arrays. The advantage is being solely independent from electrical corporations and having a system paid for within a few years.

Going Back In Time

Energy efficient wood heating stoves that comply with EPA standards have made a big comeback as an alternative for homeowners to heat their homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, modern wood burning stoves can save homeowners over half the costs of heating homes with gas or electricity. Savings can add up into thousands of dollars each year by using these wood-heating devices. These stoves have specially designed catalyst converters built into the stove that reduces carbon emissions into the atmosphere. They also distribute heat thoroughly throughout the stove to allow maximum heating efficiency in large areas of the home. Homeowners that have a large property area can create their own fuel supply for stoves by cutting timber themselves. With electrical companies constantly clearing power lines free of timber and weather related fallen timber, there is always a source to use as a fuel supply. Insulating and maintaining your home is an important key to adequately winterize it for cold weather. Wrapping pipes in insulation will produce fewer broken pipes and energy loss through freezing weather conditions. The installation of high efficiency light bulbs will help reduce overall electrical costs. By just making a few improvements in the efficiency of your home, thousands of dollars can be saved on an annual basis. If you live in a rural area and use a well for your water supply, the addition of a solar power array and wood heating can give you independence from utility companies. The benefits of being totally independent from others in your everyday activities are something everyone should think about.

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