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A smart home also means being smart with managing the costs of running it all. These smart power strips, thermostats and LED bulbs can lower costs.
Marc Saltzman, Special to USA TODAY
A cold weather advisory has been issued for all of Rhode Island from 10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday as temperatures are set to hit a dangerous chill.
“Very cold wind chills as low as 20 below expected,” the National Weather Service advisory says. “The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures.”
Hats and gloves are a must in these in temperatures.
With how cold it is outside, what temperature should set the inside of your house to in order to stay cozy without being horrified by your energy bill. Low sixties? 68? In the 70s?
While there is certainly room for personal preference, the Department of Energy does have an official answer to the question.
What to set your thermostat to in winter
The Department of Energy’s recommendation is to set your thermometer to 68 degrees during the winter. However, Ram Narayanamurthy, deputy director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, told USA TODAY that anywhere near 70 degrees is a safe bet.
How to avoid overheating your house in winter
No matter how cold it gets, it’s still important to balance heat and cold while warming your house, for the sake of your health and your energy bill.
The Department of Energy suggests dropping the temperature of your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees while you’re out of the house. As heating systems (unlike air conditioners) generally don’t work any harder to warm your home back up after you lower temperatures, it can’t hurt to drop it even by significant amounts.
Still, make sure you don’t drop your thermostat too low. Temperatures below 64 degrees could pose possible health risks for healthy people according to the World Health Organization. If you have very young or older people in your home, the minimum temperature should be higher at 68 degrees.
How to save on your energy bills this winter
Keeping your home warm during winter is important, but keeping the bills down is also a priority.
Things like space heaters, fireplaces, electric blankets and wood-burning stoves are all ways that people cut costs spent on heating homes. These items require less energy than a heating system, but while they are safer than they were in the past, they may require routine maintenance or replacement.
Have your heating unit inspected annually to make sure it is running properly. If not, it could end up costing you more money in maintenance costs or overworking to produce heat costs.
Consider investing in a smart thermostat as you can control the temperature of your home throughout the day to save money. Many smart thermostats have scheduling options to set the temperature for certain times of the day.
How to keep pipes from freezing
Frozen pipes are a nightmare to deal with when the temperature drops, but it can be prevented. Frozen pipes can happen at any temperatures below freezing, depending largely on how insulated the pipes are, so it’s always best to be cautious.
Here are some tips from Providence Water on the best way to avoid it.
- Run a trickle of water: Standing water in the pipes, which will expand if it freezes potentially causing the pipes to crack, is the enemy. The best way to prevent that is to run a trickle of water during freezing periods. The cost of running the water is far less than what it will cost to hire someone to repair the pipes.
- Open the cabinet under your sink: To help keep the pipes under your sink and in the walls warm, it helps to open the cabinets allowing more heat from the rest of the house to get in there than if the doors were closed.
- Know how to shut off your water: In the event a pipe does freeze or break, the first course of action should be shutting the water off. Then, you can try thawing it with a hair dryer or space heater. Go slow when turning the water back on, and be prepared to call a plumber.
Average winter temperature in Rhode Island
How chilly it is outside in Rhode Island during the winter? Here’s a look at the averages temperatures from 2023-2019, based on data.
- December – 36.74 degrees
- January – 32.08 degrees
- February – 32.92 degrees
- March – 39.8 degrees
The average minimum temperatures for that time period was:
- December – 28.62 degrees
- January – 23.98 degrees
- February – 24.36 degrees
- March – 30.26 degrees
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
