that time of year The Danish Art of Being Cozy
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Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word that does not translate perfectly into English, which might be exactly why it has found such a natural home in Maryland. This is a state that knows how to make something its own. The closest we can get is warmth, comfort, togetherness and the quiet pleasure of just being exactly where you are. A candle on the table. A bowl of something warm. The feeling that the house is on your side. Creating that feeling does not require a renovation or a flight to Copenhagen. It requires a home that actually feels comfortable, not too hot, not too cold, not drafty in all the wrong places. That is where smart energy habits come in, because a cozy home around here looks a little different than it does in Norway.
It’s called “hygge” and the Danes use it to express the feeling of comfortable contentment.
Ten ways to turn your home into the most comfortable place on earth, and save energy while you’re at it
Tip 01 The Thermostat
Set it and forget at exactly the right temperature.
Physical comfort is the foundation for everything else. When you are fighting your home’s climate, you cannot relax into it.
Energy angle: A smart thermostat learns your schedule and keeps your home at your preferred temperature without you thinking about it. BGE offers rebates of up to $100 on eligible smart thermostat models.
Learn more BGESmartEnergy.com/SmartThermostat5
Tip 02 The Radiator
Warmth is the whole point. Make it efficient.
In Denmark, cozy living almost always involves fire — a wood stove or a cluster of candles. The flicker and warmth signal your brain that it is safe to slow down. While many Maryland homes have cast iron radiators that clank and hiss their way through winter, true comfort means a home that stays warm without a bill to match.
Energy angle: Air sealing and proper insulation keep heat from sneaking back outside. A BGE home energy audit identifies exactly where warmth is escaping and what it will take to keep it where it belongs.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/HomePerformance5
Tip 03 The Ceiling Fan
Easy breezy
The gentle spin and soft movement of air make the whole room feel like it is exhaling. No noise, no blast of cold air, just a steady, unhurried breeze that says, “nothing to do.”
Energy angle: Ceiling fans use a fraction of the energy of air conditioning and can make a room feel up to 4 degrees cooler. A well-maintained system works smarter alongside a fan, running less while maintaining your preferred climate. A BGE HVAC Tune-up keeps your system at peak efficiency so your fan can do the heavy lifting.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/TuneUp5
Top 04 The Windows
Close the curtains. Keep cozy in.
A cold, drafty room cannot feel warm and welcoming, no matter how many candles you light. Heavy curtains pulled at dusk are the domestic equivalent of putting on a good sweater.
Energy angle: Up to 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. Be strategic: In winter, open coverings on sunny mornings to let the sun warm your home and close them at dusk. In summer, keep them closed on windows that get direct sunlight. Not sure where the drafts are? A BGE Quick Home Energy Check-up can identify gaps around frames.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/Quick5
Tip 05 Something Warm
Put a pot on.
The smell of crab soup simmering or bread baking fills a house in a way no candle can replicate. It says someone is here, something good is happening and you are welcome.
Energy angle: A slow cooker uses roughly the same energy as a light bulb over the course of a day, dramatically less than an oven. It is one of the most energy-efficient ways to cook a full meal while you do other things.
Learn more at consumerreports.org/appliances/best-energy-efficient-kitchen-appliances
Tip 06 The Porch
Take it outside, 6 months a year anyway.
Maryland has a seasonal outdoor extension most states don’t have. For half the year, the front porch is the living room, and that is exactly as it should be.
Energy angle: Electronics and lights in standby mode quietly drain energy around the clock. A smart power strip detects standby mode and cuts power automatically, including to those string lights on your porch.
Learn more at energy.gov/energysaver/save-energy-your-household-smart-power-strip
Tip 07 The Lamp
Kill the overhead light.
This is perhaps the single easiest upgrade you can make tonight, for free. Overhead lighting floods a room evenly and is unflattering. Lamps create pools of warm light that make a room feel layered and genuinely inviting.
Energy angle: LED bulbs use a fraction of the energy of older bulbs and last years longer. BGE’s Quick Home Energy Check-up may install LED bulbs throughout your home at no additional cost.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/Quick5
Tip 08 The Sofa
It’s football Sunday. Nobody is leaving.
The ritual of not going anywhere, of being exactly where you are supposed to be, is what it is all about.
Energy angle: BGE’s Connected RewardsSM Program rewards you while keeping you comfortable. Enroll your smart thermostat, and BGE will occasionally ask it to reduce energy use during periods of grid strain. Your devices respond automatically, and you receive a monthly bill credit.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/ConnectedRewards5
Tip 09 The Rug
Get low. Get grounded.
There is something about being physically low in a space that feels safe and settled in a way that a formal living room does not. A good rug anchors a room and makes it feel complete.
Energy angle: A thick rug adds a layer of insulation underfoot and makes hardwood floors dramatically more comfortable. If you want to understand your home’s overall insulation, a BGE home energy audit is the place to start.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/HomePerformance5
Tip 10 The Plant
Breathe better. Feel better.
Plants bring something organic and unhurried into a space while cleaning the air. They remind you that growing things takes time and patience.
Energy angle: Indoor air quality is an underappreciated factor in home comfort. A properly maintained HVAC system with a clean filter is your best lever. A BGE HVAC Tune-up improves performance and air quality so every breath is as clean as it should be.
Learn more at BGESmartEnergy.com/TuneUp5
EmPOWER Maryland programs are funded by a charge on your energy bill. EmPOWER programs can help you reduce your energy consumption and save you money.
