We are smack in the middle of a cold winter and you have probably already received your first winter utility bill. If you had to sit down after seeing the amount of the bill, it is time to take action to prevent future utility bill shocks to your system.Here are some ideas of where to start.Home Energy Audit for a Lower Utility BillFirst, find out where your home is the least energy efficient by having someone come out and assess your home. By the time they are done they will be able to provide you with a list of everything that needs to be replaced, repaired or removed in order for your utility bill to come down.There are also tools online that you can use to do your own home assessment. These are not anywhere are good as having a professional come out, but it is good place to start.Easy Places to Start Lowering Your Utility BillHere are a handful of places to take a look at first to lower your bill quickly:

• Remove anything that is blocking your heating vents
• Turn your water heater down to 115-120 degrees
• Kitchen and bathroom fans pull heat out of your house to the outside, so use sparingly and wisely
• Turn that thermostat down a degree or two and put on a sweatshirt
• Use a draft blocker at the bottom of your front door is the door sweep is missing

Lower Your Utility Bill at Your WindowsYour windows can be one of the largest culprits as to why your utility bill is so high month after month, especially if you have old windows that need to be replaced. If this is the case, you need to come in and talk to us about getting better windows on your home. Until then, here are some suggestions on how to help your utility bill with just some window fixes:

• Put up insulated curtains or other window treatments
• Fill in any gaps or holes that are letting cold air in
• Use plastic film or insulating kits on your windows
• Lock your windows to create a better seal

All of these suggestions are only temporary fixes. If your windows are in bad shape, you need to come talk to us about having better windows installed. If you are worried about the cost, we have sales and financing plans that can help you with the cost of new windows. You may also find that the amount you save from a lower utility bill and not having to purchase materials to constantly fix and insulate you old windows, balances out the cost of having new windows installed.