Winter Energy Savings Guide: How to Stay Warm and Save Energy During the Cold Months

Winter is here in Massachusetts and with it comes chilly mornings, shorter days, and the annual challenge of keeping your home warm and comfortable. The good news? A few smart adjustments can help you stay cozy and use energy more efficiently all season long.

In this Winter Energy Savings Guide, we’ll share practical heating tips, simple home upgrades, and everyday habits that make a real difference. Whether you’re looking to increase energy efficiency, boost home comfort, or save money during the cold months, these tips from the Sponsors of Mass Save will help you make the most out of winter.

Keep the heat in

Keeping the warmth inside your home is just as important as generating it. Small gaps, open flues, or even blocked radiators, can let heat escape, or prevent it from circulating properly, making rooms feel colder than they need to. Here are simple, practical ways to seal in warmth and make your home cozy all winter long.

• Watch out for openings: During colder months, a home that is not properly insulated and air sealed can feel drafty. Warm air rises and escapes through gaps and leaks in the home’s upper levels while drawing in cold air through gaps and leaks in the lower levels. Even small access points, like mail slots and pet doors, can create drafts. Make sure all openings are closed and sealed securely or are covered when not in use.
• Close the flue: Fireplaces are one of the largest sources of heat loss in a home. While they’re great for warmth when in use, an open flue can quickly pull warm indoor air out of the room when the fireplace is idle. Be sure the flue is fully closed during the off hours. If you can feel a draft, it’s not sealed tightly enough.
• Draft stoppers are your friend: Placing draft stoppers at the base of doors is a simple, effective way to prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from seeping in. They’re available in a wide range of styles at home improvement stores.
• Avoid blocking heat sources: If you have large pieces of furniture positioned in front of radiators or heating vents, consider rearranging them. Even slightly shifting a sofa, dresser, or bed can help ensure heat circulates freely, improving overall comfort and efficiency.

Upgrade your insulation and air sealing

Insulation and air sealing are simple but powerful ways to keep your home comfy all year. Insulation helps maintain your desired temperature by locking in heated indoor air during the winter, while air sealing plugs gaps around pipes, windows, doors, attics, and basements. A little caulk, spray foam, or weatherstripping can go a long way, reducing drafts, improving efficiency, and making every room more comfortable.

The benefits of insulation and air sealing improvements include:

• Lowering heating and cooling costs by up to 15%
• Decreasing drafts to improve comfort and humidity all year long
• Minimizing outside noise for a quieter, more peaceful environment
• Preventing allergens and pests from entering your home
• Reducing the chance of ice dams, protecting your home from potential damage

Schedule a Mass Save no-cost Home Energy Assessment to have an Energy Specialist identify ways to make your home more efficient, recommend upgrades, and guide you toward available rebates and incentives. For more tips on insulation and air sealing, check out our blog: Seal in Your Savings: Why Insulation and Air Sealing Matters for the Heating Season.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

Smart and programmable thermostats make it easy to control your home’s temperature and your energy use even when you’re not at home. These devices can learn your habits, adjust automatically to changing weather, and be monitored or controlled remotely via your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Upgrading your thermostat for the winter can help you save up to 10% on heating. Features like automatic weather adjustments and scheduled temperature changes ensure your home stays comfortable while reducing energy use when you’re away or asleep.

The Sponsors of Mass Save offer rebates and incentives for making the switch. See a full list here.

Get the most from your heat pump

D Heat pumps are an energy-efficient way to keep your home comfortable year-round—even during the coldest Massachusetts winters. Whether you have a ductless mini-split or a central (ducted) system, taking a few simple steps to optimize its use this season can help you maximize comfort while saving energy and reducing heating costs.

• Set the temperature for comfort: Mini-split sensors are near the ceiling, so you may need to set the temperature slightly higher than a standard thermostat for optimal comfort. For central heat pumps, make sure vents are unobstructed, and the thermostat is placed in a location that accurately reflects room temperature.
• Put your heat pump on “cruise control”: Find a comfortable temperature, set it, and avoid constant adjustments. Your system runs most efficiently at a steady setting.
• Maintain indoor and outdoor units: Clean indoor filters monthly and keep snow, ice, and debris away from the outdoor unit, which should be mounted above typical snowfall levels.
• Use sunlight to your advantage: Keep curtains open during the day to let in heat and close them at night to retain warmth.

Considering installing a heat pump? Visit https://www.masssave.com/heatpump to learn more.

Stay warm and save energy and money this winter in Massachusetts by taking simple steps like sealing drafts, programming your thermostat, optimizing insulation, and using your heating systems efficiently. Small changes add to a cozier, more energy-smart home all season long.