Greensburg GreenTown

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Winter can mean expensive gas and energy bills, but that does not need to be the case. By following the simple tips below, you can reduce your energy use and better manage your heating bills. These tips will improve your home's comfort and save energy and money while doing the right thing for the environment.

• Install a programmable thermostat and set it to lower the temperature at night and whenever the house is unoccupied. Lowering your thermostat by 10 degrees at night can reduce your heating bill by 10 to 20 percent.
  • Lowering the thermostat by just one degree Fahrenheit can reduce energy use by 3 percent.
• Make sure you are properly maintaining your furnace and heating system. Older furnaces and those that are poorly maintained may run less efficiently, waste energy and cost you more money.
  • This includes inspecting your filters monthly. Clean or replace them if there is significant dust build-up.  
  • If your furnace has a built-in humidifier, use it. The extra humidity will make the air feel warmer, especially in dryer climates.
• Install do-it-yourself plastic-film storm windows. This is a low-cost way to make windows more energy efficient.  They are available at most local hardware stores.
• Keep blinds, shades and draperies open during the day to allow sunlight in to warm your home or business (and close them at night for insulation purposes).
• Use foam or plastic gaskets to insulate drafty electrical outlets along exterior walls.
• Check weather stripping, caulking and seals around doors and windows. Several small holes or cracks throughout your home can allow as much warm air to escape as one open window.
• Make sure the water heater is set no higher than 125 degrees and insulate your hot water pipes. By keeping the water in these pipes warm, the water heater will not be required to do as much work.
• Do not use a traditional fireplace for supplemental heating. A fireplace sucks heated air out of your home to fuel the fire and exhausts it through the chimney, and then your furnace has to turn on to replace that warm air.
  • Remember to make sure your fireplace damper is closed and properly sealed.

Check out the following websites for more tips on reducing your energy bill this winter:

Energy Star Tips to Fight the Frost

Winter Energy Saving Tips

Top Ten Tips to Cut Winter Energy Costs

Tips For Saving Money This Winter On Your Heating Bill