With colder weather here, your heating system is working overtime to maintain a comfortable level in your home. Here are some tips to conserve energy and keep your upcoming bills from skyrocketing!
Set your thermostat to as low as setting as you can while remaining safe and comfortable. (68 degrees is the temp the Dept. of Energy recommends for max savings on your energy usage.) With the extreme cold we are expecting, expensive auxiliary strip heat will be called on to supplement your heat pump and natural gas usage will also increase.
Here's how you can offset that lower thermostat setting: Set your ceiling fan to turn in a clockwise direction to keep warm air from getting trapped at the ceiling. Bundle up or wear layered clothing.
Also - Use caulk or weather stripping to seal up cracks and crevices around doors and windows. Even newspaper, paper towels or old strips of cloth will work as a temporary measure.
Examine your attic to make sure you have at least 10" of insulation above all heated and cooled areas of your home. If not, supplement to achieve this coverage.
Keep window blinds or curtains open to allow solar energy in. Close them at night to retain that warmth.
Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.
Set your water heater to 120 degrees.