Winterize Your Home

The weather outside may be getting frightful, but home should still be delightful — and green. Sierra Club gives tips to help you get cozy without turning up the thermostat.

Tip #1: Dam the Drafts

Drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Start simple: Plug up a drafty door with a rolled-up towel, or get creative and make a googly-eyed draft snake. For a few bucks, you can insulate windows with shrink film and seal gaps with caulking. To further reduce airflow, install storm windows and doors, which save up to 45% of energy. Do your old, drafty windows need replacing? Invest in an efficient set, which, if you install it by Dec. 31, qualifies for a federal tax credit covering 30% of the cost, up to $1,500.

Tip #2: Prepare for Snow

Instead of powering up a snowblower or throwing out your back with a shovel, consider buying a wheeled snow shovel, which acts as a lever and lets you lift and toss with minimal effort. You can also get an eco-friendly deicer that contains calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). Forget road salt, which may harm roadside plants and aquatic life.

Tip #3: Take the Fridge Outside

Even as outside temperatures dip below freezing in many places, the refrigerator accounts for 14% of a household's energy consumption. Skip the costs by building an outdoor fridge using this simple guide. The project requires some plywood, two small computer fans, and an enthusiasm for basic carpentry.

Keeping the fridge indoors? Place your hand by its door to test whether cold air is escaping, and replace the door seal if needed. A full fridge uses less energy than an empty one, so stock up on some feel-good soup before the next storm.

Tip #4: Three Quickest Tricks

These are almost too easy:

Turn down your water heater. Even in the coldest weather, there's no reason to waste energy and to scald yourself with a 140-degree shower.

Turn your ceiling fan in reverse. A clockwise rotation circulates warm air near the ceiling back down to your living space.

Turn down your thermostat and put on a big sweater instead.