We may be entering February, but if last year taught us anything, it’s that winter can throw us a few curve balls, even when the end of the season ought to be in sight. There is plenty more cold weather ahead of us, and likely some more snowfall to go with it. You need to know that your heating system in Boston, MA is not only to heat your home effectively, but also that it will do so efficiently. You don’t want to wait around in discomfort while you look forward to the start of spring, after all. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help you enjoy efficient heating in your home.

There are a lot of beautiful old homes in this part of the country. Of course, homes of this age were likely not constructed with the same attention paid to energy efficiency as newer ones are. Simply investing in some weather stripping with which to eliminate drafts in door and window frames can seriously help you to boost energy efficiency in your home. You may also want to consider wrapping your windows with plastic sealing, available at just about any hardware store, in order to help prevent drafts.

You may not realize just how huge of an impact your thermostat can have on the overall performance quality and efficiency of your HVAC system. Simply upgrading an old, outdated thermostat to a programmable model, for instance, means that you can come home to comfort every day, without maintaining that temperature in your house while it is empty for hours at a time. Program it to cater to your own personal schedule, and enjoy great comfort with increased efficiency.

Never convince yourself that you can skip over an annual heating maintenance service. Even if you didn’t have your system serviced going into winter, you should have it maintained at the close of the season. The time of the year doesn’t matter so much as the fact that it is serviced at least once a year. It’s not too late to ensure the success and efficiency of your heater with routine maintenance.

Shoddy electrical workmanship can pose a threat to the safety of your family and home as a whole. Additionally, faulty work done by an unprofessional or unlicensed individual can leave you open to liability for injuries that could possibly earned by others. Hence, it is vital to choose the right Trenton electrical contractor for the job.

Before you hire or contact someone, write a description of the kind of work you would like to be done. It is a good move to consider your electrical needs for the future if you are adding a new room or simply improving your home. For instance, with the abundance of electrical devices and appliances available to businesses and consumers, it may be a good time to have electrical home improvements as well as to have more electrical outlets at home too.

Starting your search for the right contractor can sometimes be a challenging task but you can begin hunting by checking the Web. These days, there are so many electricians who have their own sites. But before you hire someone, make sure to do a little background check. You may see some forums regarding what people say about a certain contractor or you may ask your friends what they know about the contractor or person. You may also ask your friends and officemates if they know a good contractor.

You should enlist the services of a licensed Trenton electrical wiring professional. While this may not assure you will get excellent workmanship, a licensed professional can possibly meet your needs. Make sure the contractor is insured too. See to it to clearly describe to the contractor what you need to be done and what you expect from him. You and the contractor you are going to hire should be on the same road regarding the proposed work. Once the contractor has reviewed the list of jobs that you would want to be done, you can then gain agreement.

If the contractor proposes something different or not related to what you want to be done, ask for an explanation and see if additional work is really needed. If you think his explanation is not clear and something you cannot seem to agree, move on to your next prospect. Having an electrician should not be a risky endeavor.

Did you know that your video game habit is an energy hog? The costs aren’t limited to the price of your console and games – the Xbox One and other gaming systems actually draw a large amount of electricity. In response to criticism about how much power the Xbox consumes, Microsoft is reaching out to help consumers cut down on their product's energy profile with one small change that could save gamers $250 million per year.

Power-Guzzling Standby Mode

The big problem with the Xbox comes during its standby mode. By design, the system is never actually off, which provides gamers with two major benefits: They can start it up instantly with no load time, and the device downloads updates in the background when the console isn't being used, so you never have to sit around waiting for that annoying status bar to finish loading.

Unfortunately, the “instant-on” feature uses a shocking amount of electricity – up to 40 percent of the total consumed by the Xbox, according to the National Resources Defense Council.

“While the device is reasonably efficient when playing a game, that is more than offset by its power-guzzling ‘Instant On’ standby mode that is enabled by default,” Noah Horowitz wrote on the NRDC blog.

Last year, the NRDC released a study which found that the energy consumed nationwide by the three most popular consoles – PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U – reaches as much as 11 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough to power Houston, Texas for a year.

Microsoft Responds

The criticism must have stung, because Microsoft is now making an extra effort to remind gamers of the console's energy saving mode, which does not have the same features as instant-on but can save consumers $6 to $15 per year. With 7 million consoles and counting in the U.S., that adds up in a big way.

"While we believe Instant-on provides the best experience for our fans, we also believe in providing consumer choice which is why we offered the ‘Energy-saving’ mode," Microsoft wrote in a recent blog post. “By providing multiple power states in Xbox One and empowering our fans with choice, we sought to balance energy efficiency and functionality. At the same time, we know many Xbox One fans are vigilant about their household’s energy consumption; after all, environmental leadership often begins at home.”

The company also previously made changes to reduce power consumption during instant-on mode by one third.

Look for Energy Savings

To change your Xbox so it uses the energy saving option, look in the “power & start up” menu under settings. Fifteen dollars might not sound like a lot, but with so many Xbox fans, the energy savings really add up.

If you really want to go the extra mile with your Xbox and other electronics, just unplug them when you aren't using them. That gets around the matter of stand-by mode altogether and can help you save a decent chunk of change by avoiding energy vampires.

Spending time outdoors with friends and family is special. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows around a campfire or grilling hamburgers for a party, fun and laughter are sure to ensue. If you’re the kind of person who loves to spend time outdoors at night, make sure you have adequate outdoor lighting.

There are numerous benefits to outdoor lighting, apart from just brightening your space. You’ll add value to your home and be able to enjoy peace of mind. When you put all that work into making your home look like an architectural masterpiece, don’t let it disappear when nightfall comes.

With outdoor lighting, the possibilities are virtually endless. You can light walkways and driveways; you can implement zone lighting to highlight specific areas of your home; you can light up your deck, patio or pool; and you can install motion detector lights. No matter the location you choose to illuminate, rest assured it will add safety and security to your home. A well-lit landscape will help you feel safer at night and deter trespassers.

Whether you’re entertaining guests on your deck or patio or hanging out by the pool or hot tub, it’s important to have the right lighting to ensure the safety of you and your guests. The last thing you want is for someone to slip or trip and hurt themselves.

Even if having guests over isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll want to make sure you and your family are safe at night. Forgot something in your car? Waited until 10 p.m. to think about checking the mail? Ensure your pathway is properly lighted so that you don’t step on or near a critter or trip over a skateboard.

If you’re looking to enhance your curb appeal, outdoor lighting is the way to go. An illuminated home communicates to passersby that you care for your home, not to mention it’s warm and inviting. If positioned properly, you can highlight the best features of your home, such as your landscaping. When you put time and great effort into turning your landscaping into art, you want it seen at all hours, not just during the day!

No matter your reasoning for wanting to add outdoor lighting, rest assured a licensed electrician can help you choose the best lights for your needs and budget.