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Bill Gates,  founder of Microsoft, lives in a mansion that encompasses over 66,000 square feet on the east shore of Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. Can you imagine how much it must cost to heat a home this large? It costs a bundle, and the monthly heating bill is likely far more than most of us make in a month.  John Edwards, former Democratic vice presidential candidate, made headlines when he said it only cost him around three to four hundred dollars to heat his 28,000 square foot mansion. Edwards must have been referring to the cost of his haircuts, which reportedly run up to $400!

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While the claim that a mansion can be heated for only a few hundred dollars is far-fetched, there are steps that millionaires and billionaires can take to reduce the heating costs of their large homes. Energy efficiency, insulation and smart thermostats are vitally important. Bill Gates himself lives on an earth sheltered home that helps to minimize his heating bills.

Energy Efficiency

It is important for large homes and mansions to have energy efficient heating systems. The EPA strongly recommends that Energy Star be professionally installed in homes so that an appropriately sized unit is determined and then properly installed. The EPA has claimed that energy efficiency can be reduced by a whopping 30 percent if the installation is not done correctly.

Insulation

Insulation is very important to the heating of large homes and mansions, as well. Did you know that insulation can reduce heating costs by nearly 25 percent? Ceilings, walls, floors and heating ducts should all be insulated to see this reduction in energy costs. Insulation will prevent heat from escaping large homes and also keep the home more comfortable. In Bill Gates’ mansion, the soil acts as a kind of natural insulator on the sides of the homes.

Smart Thermostats

Large homes and mansions can benefit tremendously by having smart thermostats, which include digital and wireless thermostats. Digital thermostats should be placed in convenient locations in the mansion. These convenient devices allow homeowners to save time and money. Heat settings can be set for the future so that thermostats are scheduled when everyone is asleep. Also, those who are away from their home for extended periods of time can schedule this in their digital thermostat. Bill Gates actually takes advantage of a wireless thermostat to heat his mansion. It makes sense to have a wireless thermostat for convenience purposes in a large space, such as this.