Design & DIY 8 tips to save energy (and money!) in the winter By Jackie Davis Published: January 28, 2023 Updated: March 26, 2024 share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Copy Link Cancel View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By Kaentian Street/Shutterstock Keep 'em closed Shut the shades. Keeping your curtains closed can reduce heat loss by up to 25 per cent. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By Virunja/Shutterstock Stop the escape Don’t let heat escape out your chimney. An open fireplace damper loses as much energy as a wide-open 48 x 48 window. Unless you have a fire going, keep the damper closed. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By NIKCOA/Shutterstock Seal the leaks Caulk tiny leaks around windows and doors. The average cottage has enough cracks and crevices to amount to a basketball-sized hole in the wall. That’s a lot of lost heat! View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By VVVproduct/Shutterstock Slow the flow Buy a faucet aerator for your bathroom tap; you’ll use less hot water. Choose one that delivers 3 to 5.7 litres of water per minute. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By VH-studio/Shutterstock Lose the air “Bleed” the air from radiators at least once a year. This allows them to fill fully with water and function more efficiently. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By Africa Studio/Shutterstock Don't pack it in Don’t overfill your fridge. Leave about 20 per cent of open space. If the fridge is crammed full, the motor has to work harder to circulate the cold air. The fridge will suck more energy. (Plus, forcing the motor to work hard makes it more prone to failure.) View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By SViktoria/Shutterstock Dry it right When you’re using the clothes dryer, dry lightweight items with other lightweight items, and heavy items with other heavy items. The clothes will dry faster and more evenly. Got several loads? Dry them consecutively. The dryer will work more efficiently because it doesn’t have to warm up between loads. View in Fullscreen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 By New Africa/Shutterstock Forget the oven The microwave is your friend! Microwaves use 80 per cent less energy than conventional ovens. You can use them in more ways than you think you can: cook eggs, toast nuts, even bake cookies. It’s faster too. ’Cause who wants to wait for cookies? View in Fullscreen Related galleries A well-designed cottage deck can help you spend more time outside. Here are three we love 5 CL-approved DIY tricks to simplify life at the cottage Bestselling author Bryn Turnbull’s family cottage used to be covered in frog tchotchkes. Now, it’s a Georgian Bay gem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 tips to save energy (and money!) in the winter Life is expensive. Small energy-saving moves can add up to big cash savings in the long run. With these eight simple tricks, you’ll save energy and keep more money in your pocket. Build it, fix it, get it done!Get Dockside DIY, for tips on how to maintain your cottage…and then someSign up here Related Story Q&A: Mouse-proofing a winterized cottage Related Story 5 tips to split wood more efficiently Related Story Cottage Q&A: Should we consider a metal roof?
Build it, fix it, get it done!Get Dockside DIY, for tips on how to maintain your cottage…and then someSign up here