Follow New York Energy $mart Tips For Lower Home Heating Bills This Winter

November 24, 2009

NYSERDA’s Top Ten Winter Tips For Cutting Energy Costs

• Buy a Good Thermostat. Use a programmable thermostat with your heating system to lower the temperature automatically when no one is home or at night. You can save nearly $200 a year without sacrificing any comfort.
• Plug up the Cracks. Keep the warm air in and the cold air out by adding insulation, caulking and weatherstipping around doors, attic access, windows, outlets and any area that can let the cold air in and the warm air out.
• Unblock the Vents. Make sure not to block floor and wall vents with draperies, furniture, or rugs. Also, clean vents regularly with a vacuum or broom.
• Let the Sun Shine In. Take advantage of natural solar heating. It’s free! Keep blinds and drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.
• Close the Damper. If you have a fireplace, install glass doors and close the damper when not in use to keep heated air from escaping up the chimney.
• Take Out the Room AC. If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit.
• Use Your Fan. Ceiling fans can keep you comfortable in the winter too! Reversing the direction of the blades pushes warm air down into the room.
• Don’t Forget the Water. Although some manufacturers set water heater thermostats at 140 degrees, you can save big dollars by lowering the temperature to 120 degrees, a safe, comfortable level for most people.
• Unplug the Appliances. Electronics, appliances, and adapters continue to use energy even when they’re turned off. In fact, just two cable/DVR set-top boxes use the same amount of electricity as a standard refrigerator.
• Replace the Bulbs. Replace your five most used bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save more than $60 on your annual energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less electricity.

Want to save even more? To reduce your energy bills by as much as 40 percent, try the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. An accredited Home Performance contractor can conduct a home assessment on your house to find areas for improvements, and NYSERDA can show you various financing options and incentives. With a few small steps, you can improve the energy efficiency, health and safety, and overall value of your home. All you've got to lose is your high heating bills.

For more information, visit NYSERDA Get Energy Smart or call toll-free 1-877-NYsmart.

CONTACT:

Jeffrey Gordon, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext 3544
jrg@nyserda.ny.gov