While reducing energy costs is a year-round concern, certain ways to conserve energy in your home are season-specific. Heating the house in winter in Indiana presents an unavoidable energy expense. However, the season also offers creative ways to conserve energy. Here are simple ways to cut cold weather costs by making minor changes that add up.
- Let the sun shine in. Solar heat gain in summer is a nuisance. In winter, however, it’s a benefit. Open curtains and blinds during the day and take advantage of free heat that takes some of the load off your furnace. As evening approaches, close curtains and blinds to slow heat loss through the windows as one of the easiest ways to conserve energy.
- Dress for the season. Wearing more clothes around the house allows you to maintain a lower furnace thermostat setting and still be warm. Every degree lower on the thermostat setting means 3% to 5% savings in heating expense. Layer clothing to make your household attire both adaptable and comfortable to changes in indoor temperature.
- Seal air leaks. Hot air seeping into the house in summer is less noticeable than the chilly drafts that occur in winter due to air leaks. Make sure weatherstripping is intact around doors, windows, and other openings to the exterior. Where older window frames allow excess outdoor-air infiltration, consider installing clear, plastic window-insulation kits that are available at home centers. It’s inexpensive and easily removed in spring.
- Redirect air with ceiling fans. Rising furnace heat accumulating at the ceiling of a room provides little comfort to occupants below. An energy-efficient ceiling fan on a “Winter” rotation setting continuously recirculates accumulated heat downward into the living space.
- After using the oven, leave the oven door standing open. You wouldn’t do that on a blazing hot summer day would you? That’s precisely why it’s a good idea during the winter. It’s not a major ongoing heat source, but putting every bit of spare heat energy to work helps reduce winter expenses.
With still more ways to conserve energy and heat efficiently, Paitson Bros. is about to celebrate 100 years of service to Terre Haute residents.
Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.
Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.
Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys 
Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.
An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922