EES Information Video Series

How to Reduce Heat Loss at Home and Make the Most of Your Energy This Winter

 When winter hits, keeping your home warm can strain both your energy supply and your budget—especially if you don’t have a backup power system. The good news? Reducing heat loss doesn’t always require major renovations. Smart upgrades, fuel choices, and small, affordable improvements can significantly improve comfort and efficiency. 

Your home’s biggest heat losses often happen around windows, doors, and poorly sealed gaps. Simple fixes can make a noticeable difference:

• Replace worn weather stripping around doors and windows to block drafts.
• Seal gaps and cracks with caulk or foam, especially around outlets, baseboards, and attic access points.
• Use blackout or thermal curtains to reduce heat escaping through windows, particularly at night.
• Close off unused rooms and vents to focus heat where you actually live.

These low-cost steps help your heating system work less while keeping indoor temperatures more stable.

If replacing everything at once isn’t realistic, focus on upgrading appliances as they break.

• Choose high-efficiency or ENERGY STAR®-rated models for heating equipment, refrigerators, and laundry appliances.
• Newer furnaces, heat pumps, and water heaters use significantly less energy for the same output.
• Smart thermostats and efficient space heaters can also reduce wasted energy.

Incremental upgrades spread costs over time while steadily lowering energy use.

 Electricity is often the most expensive way to generate heat.

• Propane or natural gas HVAC systems can reduce electrical demand during cold weather.
• Gas dryers and stoves lower household electrical loads and may remain usable during outages (with proper ventilation).
• Hybrid systems can combine electric controls with gas heat for added efficiency.

These options are especially helpful for homes in areas with frequent winter outages.

  Proper insulation keeps heat where it belongs.

• Attic insulation offers one of the highest returns on investment.
• Insulate basements, crawl spaces, and exposed pipes to prevent heat loss and freezing.
   

Reducing heat loss isn’t about being uncomfortable—it’s about using energy wisely. Small improvements paired with smart upgrades can lower power bills, improve comfort, and help households make the most of their energy all winter long.

• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) – Home Energy Saver & Winterization Guides
• ENERGY STAR® – Certified appliances, heating systems, and efficiency tips
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Insulation and air sealing guidance
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) – Home performance and efficiency best practices
• Local utility companies – Rebates and energy-efficiency incentive programs