Save Energy and Money by Closing Unused Rooms

Energy costs are skyrocketing, and people are searching for ways to stretch their budgets to cover heating and electricity in these winter months.  Besides turning down the thermostat and increasing insulation, reducing the amount of heat or energy you use by closing up unused or uneccessary rooms can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills.

Close Up Unused Rooms - Registers

All registers in an unused room should be closed and covered to reduce energy costs and reduce waste.  Be sure to do the same thing to air vents or registers that both push air into the room and take it out.  Baseboard heaters can also be turned off and covered, though this is a bit more difficult.
All registers in an unused room should be closed and covered to reduce energy costs and reduce waste
To safely cover registers and air vents, first be sure to close them completely.  There are commercial register covers that can be used.  Some are more complex things you screw into the wall, but there are also magnetic sheets that can be attached directly to the metal fixture.

Close Up Unused Rooms - Windows and Doors

All windows and doors in the unused room should be closed and sealed against any drafts or leaks.  Use storm windows on every window in the room.  Make sure weather-stripping is in place and has no breaks or gaps. 

You can purchase plastic sheeting, styrofoam, or even use old blankets or heavy drapes to further insulate the windows.  Attach these with a heavy-duty staple gun or other secure fastening to all edges of the windows or doors inside.  This will reduce leaks and lower the energy requirements of the house.

Close up Unused Rooms - Electricity

There is no need to use electricity at all in an unused room in your house.  Not only should you obviously turn off all appliances, light fixtures, and other electronic equiptment, you should unplug it as well.  If your house has multiple circuits or fuses, you can even disable the electricity to the unused rooms.  This will prevent any electicity 'leak' that will result in very small losses that will show up on your bill.  Anything you can do to reduce energy consumption is good for both the environment and your wallet.

Closing up unused rooms is an excellent way to save money and energy on your home heating costs this winter.  Always be mindful of how to reduce consumption, and then take steps to further insulate or isolate those areas of the house that are not in use.