Winter Tips to Conserve Energy and Lower your Bills
Free and Low Cost Winter Energy Saving Tips
KEEP THE HEAT IN
- Weatherize your home by caulking and weather-stripping all doors and windows. Also use locks on your windows to make them tighter and draft resistant.
- Insulate or increase the amount of insulation in your attic, basement and outside walls. Also cover wall air conditioners to prevent cold air from leaking into your home.
- Reducing air leaks could cut 10 percent from an average household's monthly energy bill. The most common places where air escapes homes are: floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
- Keep shades and curtains open during the day on the south side of your home to allow solar heating. Close them at night to retain heat.
MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY
- Don't block your radiators or heating vents with furniture or draperies. Keep your radiators, registers and baseboard heaters dirt and dust free. Close vents and doors in unused rooms.
- Have your heating system serviced once a year and regularly replace furnace filters. During the heating season, change or clean furnace filters once a month.
- Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are home and lower the temperature when you go to bed or when you are not at home. For every degree you lower your thermostat you save about 2 percent off your heating bill.
- Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to save money on your energy bill. If you have children in the house, this is also a safety measure
Call TURN at 800-355-8876 if you need more information.