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Winter heating costs are expected to increase this year due to changes in
the natural gas market. Heating homes and businesses this winter could have
a significant impact on budgets.
Ensuring that your home is well insulated and
winterized against the cold weather can be an inexpensive way to cut costs
on your heating bill. Below are a few ideas for improving the efficiency
of your home.
CONSERVE OVERALL UTILITY USAGE
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Match your energy use to
your operating needs. Use free daylight for general lighting and add
task lighting when higher light levels are needed. Turn off lights,
appliances and equipment when not in use. Install and use motion sensors,
time of day controls, and programmable thermostats to more precisely match
your energy use to your lighting and heating needs.
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Know your electric
utility rates and take best advantage of time of day rates. You can
design your equipment and lighting to start up at appropriate intervals or
only when needed to minimize costs due to electric demand charges.
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Contact your utility
companies about possible savings and assistance programs. Many utility
companies now offer budget plans to help offset high energy costs during
the winter. Also, some utility companies offer discounts and credits for
using specific types and efficiencies of equipment.
INSULATION, WINDOWS, AND DOORS
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Check your attic insulation.
If there is less than 6 inches, see your local home center for assistance
with adding more. Make sure your attic accesses are insulated and
weather-stripped to prevent unwanted air leakage.
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Check your wall insulation.
While adding insulation to walls may be more difficult than adding
insulation to attics, it is equally important in your home's ability to
retain heat.
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Check your basement/crawlspace
insulation. The walls and floor joists can and
should be insulated as much as possible. If you have older (ground level
windows in your basement, consider covering them with insulation and
sealing the outside with plywood or plastic.
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Check your windows, window sills, and
trim for air cracks. Add insulation to these
areas where possible. Plug air
leaks around windows, doors, light switches, electrical outlets, and other
openings. Some people winterize older windows with heat shrink plastic.
Replace damaged weather-stripping on doors and windows.
FURNACES, FLUES, AND DUCTWORK
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Set your thermostat to 68 degrees.
You can set it back even lower at night or when you are not at home.
Each degree you lower your
thermostat saves you nearly 3% on the energy you use for heating.
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You can also set your water heater
thermostat to "warm" or 120 degrees, unless you
have a dishwasher without a pre-heater.
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Check the furnace filter monthly.
Changing your filter regularly saves money by
allowing your furnace to run more efficiently, but also helps to ensure
safe operation and can reduce premature failure of parts.
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Keep all heat registers and air ducts
clear from obstructions. Much like the furnace
filter, furnace ducts and registers should be kept clean to allow for
maximum efficiency. Inspect ductwork for damage, duct tape failure or
disconnected ducts.
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Arrange for a maintenance "Check &
Clean". Have your heating system checked for
proper operation and have the major components cleaned properly
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Have your chimney checked for
blockage and/or damage. Whether using a chimney
for appliance venting, or for burning firewood, the cleanliness and state
of your chimney plays an important role in the safe and efficient heating
of your home.
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Close fireplace dampers when the
fireplace is not in use. This will prevent heat
from escaping your home through the chimney.
Some information listed here was borrowed from:
http://www.odod.state.oh.us/businessenergy/
Also available from the US Department of Energy:
US DOE Easy: Ways to Save Energy"
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