Heating Season 08’ ….
The pain we’ve all been suffering at the pump? It’s about to follow us indoors! Oil prices are up almost 79 percent over a year ago which means lot of us will pay significantly higher costs this year for home heating oil.
Consumers can do more than hope for mild weather this winter as they watch heating oil and natural gas prices hit record highs. They can take actions that could help reduce their bills and offset soaring energy prices. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) offers 5 practical steps for consumers to take right now at little or no cost:
Ø Change furnace filters. Monthly replacement of furnace filters in forced –air heating systems can save as much as 5% of heating bills.
Ø Insulate windows with coverings. Close blinds and drapes at night to keep cold air out and open them in the day to let warm sun in. Cover windows with insulating shades or plastic sheeting to cut down heat transfer from inside to outside.
Ø Install a programmable thermostat to set different temperatures during the night and day. Program it to warm up the house in the morning, keep it cooler during the day while residents are away, and warm it up again in the evening until bedtime. Consumers can save about 2% on heating bills for every degree thermostats are turned down.
Ø Seal doors with draft-reducing weather stripping and door sweeps to cut down on spaces where cold air can enter the house.
Ø Lower the water heater’s thermostat to the lowest level that meets your hot water needs, typically to 120 degrees F (midway between the “low” and “medium” setting on many units). Each 10-degree reduction could help you save 3% to 5% on water heating costs.
In the face of significantly higher winter energy costs this year, consumers can use smart energy practices and energy-efficiency technologies to save significantly on their monthly energy bills, and contribute to energy conservation.
For more Energy conservation information, please call the Energy Hotline at: 1-888-772-4242
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