Energy Saving Tips

Heating costs can account for 25 to 50 percent of a home’s total energy expense. Use these tips to manage your cold weather energy costs:

• Set the thermostat at 68 degrees or the lowest temperature you find comfortable. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you can gain as much as a three percent savings in energy costs.
• Clean your system’s filters periodically. A dirty system deteriorates performance and increases operating time. Filters should be changed every one to three months.
• Use a smart or programmable thermostat to set different temperatures for your home depending on whether you’re at work, at home or in bed at night.
• Clean air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Keep heat vents open and unobstructed.
• Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, floors, exterior and basement walls or crawlspace to make sure it’s at recommended levels for your area. If it’s not adequate, have insulation professionally installed.
• Insulate heating ducts to prevent heat loss. Insulating your water heater and water pipes can also provide significant energy savings.
• Keep heated air inside the home. Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows, close the fireplace damper and fill holes and gaps where wiring and pipes enter the house.
• Use kitchen, bath and other ventilation fans only as long as needed. In just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air.
• Maintain your equipment to prevent problems. To keep your system at peak performance, maintenance should be done annually by a professional.
• Select energy-efficient equipment when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. Look for the ENERGY STARlabel.
• Keep draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight into your home.

Certain telltale signs indicate it’s time to replace heating equipment or improve parts of your system to enhance performance. It may be time to call a professional contractor to help you make a change if:

• Your heating equipment is 10 years old or more. New ENERGY STAR labeled equipment uses 25 to 40 percent less energy than typical 10-year-old models.
• Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your bills are increasing.
• Your system turns on and off frequently. This can indicate that your heating system is not the right size.
• Some of your rooms are too hot or too cold. Improper equipment operation or duct problems could be the cause.
• Your home has humidity problems.
• Your home has excessive dust. Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics and crawlspaces. Sealing your ducts could be a solution.
• Your cooling system is noisy.

Sources:
www.energystar.gov

Water heating is one of your home’s top energy expenses, accounting for about 14 percent of your utility bill. There are four main ways to cut your water heating bills:

Use Less Hot Water
A family of four, each showering for five minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week. This is enough for a three-year supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half by using low flow non-aerating showerheads and faucets alone. Follow these tips to reduce your hot water use:

• Install non-aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. New showerhead flow rates can’t exceed more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. Purchase quality low-flow fixtures for around $10-20 a piece and achieve a water savings of 25 to 60 percent.
• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.
• Purchase energy efficient dishwashers and clothes washers. Check the Energy Guide labels to determine how much energy these appliances use. Always purchase appliances with the ENERGY STAR label.
• Turn off your water heater when you’re on vacation.
• Install timer controls that will shut your hot water heater off during the night and during your cooperative’s peak demand times. This modest investment can pay for itself in lower bills in about 14 months.

Turn Down the Thermostat on Your Water Heater

• Lower the thermostat on your water heater. Many heaters are set to 140 degrees F or higher. For most households, 115-120 degrees F is sufficient. For each 10-degree reduction, you can save up to five percent on your water heating costs.
• After living with the new setting for a while, readjust it if necessary to a temperature that suits your needs. In addition to saving energy, you’ll increase the life of the water heater and reduce the risk of scalding.
• Drain a quart of water from your water tank every three months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater.

Insulate Your Water Heater

• Insulate your electric water heater tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.
• Choose an insulation jacket with an insulating value of at least R-8, or use two R-5 jackets if that’s all you can find. Jackets cost $10-20 and can pay for themselves via lower energy bills in less than one year.
• On gas water heaters, keep the jacket away from the drain at the bottom and away from the flue at the top, and make sure the airflow to the burner is not obstructed.
• Insulate hot water pipes, wherever they are accessible. This reduces heat losses at the tank and along pipes leading to faucets. You also won’t have to wait as long for the water to get hot when you turn on the faucet.

Buy a New, More Efficient Water Heater

• It may cost more initially, but the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. It’s best to start shopping if yours is more than seven years old.
• New water heaters are insulated with up to one to three inches of high-efficiency foam.

Home energy use is different for everyone and hinges on several factors including size of home, members in your household, your location and preferences. Check out Touchstone Energy’s 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money to start making energy-saving changes in your home today!