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    WINTER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

    WINTER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

    CHECK YOUR HEATING, VENTILATION AND DUCTWORK.

    • Maintenance is essential for your heater to work properly. Make sure filters are clean and replace them periodically during the season.
    • Heating rooms you don't use is a surefire way to increase your electricity bill. Close off vents in rooms that only get occasional use.
    • The heat blowing out of your vents needs a clear, unobstructed path into the room to properly heat it. Rearrange the furniture in each room so it doesn't block the vents and prevent airflow.
    • To keep ductwork from leaking heated air, seal it at joints and intersections with foil-backed tape or silicone caulking.
    • Pay extra attention during heavy-use months like December. At a minimum, change the filter every three months.

    CHECK YOUR HEATING, VENTILATION AND DUCTWORK.

    • Maintenance is essential for your heater to work properly. Make sure filters are clean and replace them periodically during the season.
    • Heating rooms you don't use is a surefire way to increase your electricity bill. Close off vents in rooms that only get occasional use.
    • The heat blowing out of your vents needs a clear, unobstructed path into the room to properly heat it. Rearrange the furniture in each room so it doesn't block the vents and prevent airflow.
    • To keep ductwork from leaking heated air, seal it at joints and intersections with foil-backed tape or silicone caulking.
    • Pay extra attention during heavy-use months like December. At a minimum, change the filter every three months.

    ADJUST YOUR WATER HEATER.

    Insulate the first three feet of cold and hot water pipes near your water heater. You can also wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket when it's not
being used.

    Water heaters are often set to 140 degrees, but setting them between 120 and 125 degrees is sufficient to provide hot water for your home, reducing your energy costs. It also prevents scalding.

    TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THERMOSTAT.

    • A smart thermostat is programmable, learns your preferences over time and adjusts automatically. Plus, you can control it from your smartphone to have it turn the heat on before you arrive home or turn it off if you're going to be out longer than expected. It’s a great way to save money by not heating an empty house.
    • Set your thermostat two to three degrees lower. For every degree you set your thermostat below 78°F, you’ll see a five- to seven-percent increase in your
      cooling costs.
    • Switch your ceiling fans to spin in a clockwise direction to help recirculate warm air that has risen to
the ceiling.
    • The U.S. Department of Energy recommends lowering your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees at night and using blankets to keep you warm. This will save you about 10% on your heating bill.

    SEAL YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS.

    • Poorly installed or insulated windows and doors, as well as light fixtures, pipes and wires, can be the source of energy leaks into and out of your home. If daylight can be seen
around a door or window, it requires sealing. Use caulking or weather stripping to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Cracked or loose weather stripping should be replaced for the best seal.
    • If you live in an apartment or rental home and are unable to do repair work, you can prevent heat loss from windows by taping clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames. The effect is similar to adding a second pane of glass to the window.
    • If you're in the market for new curtains or shades, look into insulated curtains and other thermal window treatments to help prevent heat loss.
    • We often forget that the sun is still a natural source of energy in winter. Open up your shades and curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to naturally heat your home for free. (But close them at night to reduce any chill from cold windows).

    UTILIZE CEILING AND EXHAUST FANS.

    Set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise.
When spinning clockwise, your ceiling fan's blades push the hot air back down after it has naturally risen, distributing warm air in an energy-efficient manner.

    o Only use exhaust fans when necessary. Your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans pull in hot air that has risen and send it outside.
    Use them sparingly!

    KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR FIREPLACE.

    If you don't use your fireplace, you can seal the flue area to keep cold air from getting in.

    For natural gas fireplaces, make sure to turn off the pilot light when you're not using the fireplace.

    Unless a fire is burning, close the damper. Leaving it open is like leaving a window open, letting cold air in, and allowing warm air to escape up the chimney.

    CHECK YOUR ATTIC.

    • Inspect your attic insulation. Most attics should have about 10 to 14 inches of insulation (a value of R-38).
    • Even if your attic is well-insulated, the access door may not be. To prevent rising warm air from leaking into the attic, use adhesive to attach fiberglass batt insulation to the attic side of the door, forming a good seal.

    CHOOSE EFFICIENT HOLIDAY LIGHTING.

    • Use LED lights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, light-emitting diode (LED) lights use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights, making them an energy-efficient choice for holiday lighting. Plus, strands of LED lights are also safer and sturdier than their traditional counterparts.
    • Plug light strands into a power strip. This makes them easier to turn off and unplug during the day, meaning less wasted power. Note: You can apply this tip to many other energy-intensive devices around your home, too.
    • Put decorative lights on a timer. Nobody will see your lights at 2 a.m., so why keep them on all night? Leave them on for six hours or less each day to spread holiday cheer without running up your bill.
    • Use battery-powered decorations. Battery-powered candles provide just the right amount of soft light and look elegant, and the batteries last a long time. And if you invest in rechargeable batteries, you'll save even more over time.

    CHOOSE EFFICIENT HOLIDAY LIGHTING.

    • Use LED lights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, light-emitting diode (LED) lights use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights, making them an energy-efficient choice for holiday lighting. Plus, strands of LED lights are also safer and sturdier than their traditional counterparts.
    • Plug light strands into a power strip. This makes them easier to turn off and unplug during the day, meaning less wasted power. Note: You can apply this tip to many other energy-intensive devices around your home, too.
    • Put decorative lights on a timer. Nobody will see your lights at 2 a.m., so why keep them on all night? Leave them on for six hours or less each day to spread holiday cheer without running up your bill.
    • Use battery-powered decorations. Battery-powered candles provide just the right amount of soft light and look elegant, and the batteries last a long time. And if you invest in rechargeable batteries, you'll save even more over time.