Nov 3, 2014

By: Chelsea Haley, DKI Ventures, LLC

Happy November! Time to bundle up in those cozy scarves and jackets, drink hot cocoa and gorge on hearty, homemade meals. Before you get too comfortable, though, it’s also the perfect time to winterize your homes and offices.

Here are some tips to ensure your buildings remain draft-free, which will increase the temperature indoors, as well as, save you money! Who doesn’t like the sound of that?

Check weather reports               

Stay up to date with daily and weekly weather conditions. This will help you prepare and be able to inform your employees, in case it’s best to work from home.

Keep emergency supplies on hand

You should have a backup electric generator, in case your office loses power. However, if you need to use this, do so outside of the building to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Also have on hand:

• Flashlights
• First aid kit
• Water and food
• Blankets
• Road salt
• Batter-operated radio

Check drafty areas

Re-apply caulking around windows and doors. You can also use weather stripping to prevent a draft. Buy or make your own draft guards for underneath your doors to prevent heat from escaping.

Change your air filters

Get your air and heating units checked, and replace the filters to improve the air flow.

Turn down your thermostats

The US Department of Energy says you can save as much as one percent on your energy bill for every degree you lower your thermostat during the winter. Just make sure not to lower it too much, because if you get cold, it will take more energy to raise the temperature.