photo by jonfeinstein
Often times, when we think of ways to save energy, or tips on how to save energy, we think of turning off lights and fixing leaky faucets—both of which, by the way, are great ideas to incorporate green living into our way of thinking…but what about opening the curtains in the winter?
“What?? Open the curtains in the winter?”
Absolutely. According to the Department of Energy, in the winter, on sunny days, when it might be a bit chilly out, opening the curtains on the south side of your home is one way to allow warm sunlight into your home—during the day, of course.
Sunlight is free, so you can benefit from that free light, and with open curtains and blinds, the warmth of the sun will enable you to cut back on heating your house by using electric or gas heaters. There can never be too many ways to save on electric or other costs, and free energy is the most satisfying of all. And Mr. Golden Sun delivers like no other.
What’s more, if you have household plants or outdoor ones indoors for the winter months, they’ll surely appreciate that “UV connection” they need so desperately to thrive!
Then, later in the day, when the sun begins to set, go ahead and close those curtains and blinds so as to keep the cold out and heat in. Curtains and blinds act as a sort of insulation, in their own right.
We can all use the “extra money” we “get” by paying close attention to not only how we use energy…but also by how we DON’T use it…and how and where to find free energy right outside our doors!
How do you save energy? Please leave us a comment letting us know…
