Fuel prices have increased as much as 10-15 cents in as little as 24 hours just this month and and since heating & cooling costs account for HALF of our home’s energy bill it’s important to make sure we are aware of everything we can do to save every penny.
Here are some tips to help reduce energy costs at home:
1.) Properly caulk and weather-strip doors and windows will reduce heating and air conditioning usage by 10% percent. Weather-strip attic access and attach foam insulation or fiberglass batting to the back of the attic access panel/door. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, basement, exterior walls, floors and crawlspaces can save up to 25% on home energy bills.
2.) Install a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted to 65° when no one's home and during sleeping hours.
3.) Lower the thermostat on hot water heater to 120° F (most households only require a water heater thermostat setting of 115º F). Drain a quart of water from the tank of water heater every 3 months to remove sediment that lowers the efficiency of your water heater. (Follow the manufacturer's directions.)
4.) Insulate hot water heater and apply heating tape to hot water pipes to prevent heat loss.
5.) Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators twice a year. (Contact a plumber.)
6.) Have your heating system tuned-up and cleaned annually for fuel savings of approximately 5%. For additional savings, clean or replace air filters in your forced-air heating system monthly. (An ENERGY STAR qualified furnace will use about 15% less energy than a standard model.)
7.) Keep registers baseboard heaters and hot-water radiators clean. Make sure furniture, rugs and curtains do not block heaters.
8.) Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. Select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) for maximum water efficiency. Take a short shower instead of a bath; bathes use the most hot water in the average household.
9.) Glass fireplace doors help stop heat from being lost up the chimney. Close the damper when fireplace is not in use.
10.) In a dry house, people turn the heat up to a higher temperature than in a humid environment. Therefore, an efficient humidifier is a good investment for energy conservation.
for more information on how to save energy in your home contact your local Electric Company or the Office of Energy & Planning in your state
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