10 Energy Saving Tips For Fall

From Ohio to Massachusetts, temperatures are starting to drop, which means our heating bills will soon start to rise. The question is this: How much will they rise? A lot of that depends on what you do to improve efficiency in your home.

Home Energy Efficiency Checklist

Here are 10 of the most cost-effective ways to get the most bang for your buck in the cold-weather months that lay ahead:

1. Mind your windows and window treatments. About 76 percent of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows becomes heat in your home. Take advantage of that fact by leaving your curtains and blinds open during the day, and then close them at night to keep that heat in. Want to step your savings up a notch? Invest in window treatments that support your heating and cooling goals in all seasons.
2. Use your ceiling fans. It may not seem to make sense to run a fan in the winter, but if the blades are spinning in the right direction, your fan will push rising warm air back down and into your room. Most ceiling fans have a reversal switch to change their spin; see your owner’s manual for details.
3. Keep air flowing around your heat sources. Airflow is an important and often overlooked part of home comfort and efficiency. Make sure the air you paid for to heat your home can get in and move around by keeping vents and baseboards free and clear of any debris.
4. Check your furnace air filter regularly. A clogged furnace filter will overwork your furnace, which means higher bills for you. Check it once a month and change or clean it (depending on the model) as needed.
5. Weatherize. As much as 30 percent of a home’s heat can escape through air leaks around doors and windows and through under-insulated walls. Inexpensive measures like caulk, weather stripping, and door sweeps can combat air leaks, keeping the cold air out and the warm air in. Consider adding insulation to attics and crawl spaces too—it’s one of the best energy efficiency investments you can make.
6. Install and use a programmable thermostat. Turning the heat down in your home for eight hours a day can reduce your annual heating bill by as much as 10 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the easiest way to do that is with a programmable thermostat. The energy savings in the first year of use will often be enough to offset the cost of installation.
7. Lower your water temperature. Most water heater thermostats are set higher than needed to get the job done in your taps and appliances. The DOE recommends a temperature setting of 120 degrees to balance efficiency and comfort.
8. Install low-flow showerheads and aerators. Low-flow showerheads and aerators (the screw-on tips on your faucets) can cut your hot water usage in half without affecting your comfort or water pressure. Less hot water used means lower water heating bills.
9. Service your home comfort equipment. Professional maintenance is the key to keeping any equipment running efficiently and reliably: not only will it lower your energy bills, it will also prolong the life of your equipment, preventing potentially costly repairs. When the time comes, consider sensible, high-efficiency equipment upgrades: you could save as much as 30 percent on your annual fuel costs when you upgrade your equipment. That’s enough to offset the cost of a new heating unit in just a few years.
10. Enroll in a Discount Power fixed-rate plan. When you switch to Discount Power, we’ll shop to find you the best rates available for your electricity or natural gas power, so you’ll pay less for the utilities that keep you safe, warm and comfortable all year long. Lock in for 3, 6 or even a full 12 months at a low-cost rate and ensure low prices, with absolutely no fluctuation, over the course of the plan term! The best part? You’ll still get your bill from the utility company, and they will still handle all your service needs—you’ll just have more options, more control and more ways to reduce your carbon footprint!

Save money this fall and winter with an electricity and natural gas plan from Discount Power. Contact us today to learn more—or to choose and enroll in a smart, affordable energy plan!