Energy Saving Tips
Winter season tips:
Keep the hot air in by
preventing drafts
Seal all cracks, and holes where cold air blows
in and hot air leaks out. Remember to keep your blinds and drapes
closed at night to block drafty window areas. You could save up to
10% on your annual bills.
Monitor your thermostat
Keep the temperature
at sixty-eight degrees or lower. Each degree higher uses three percent
more energy. Lower your thermostat setting at night, and turn your
heat down before you leave the house. It costs less to reheat your
home than to keep it warm while you're out.
Heat creatively
Keep curtains and blinds closed at
night to keep cold air out, but open them during the day to let the
sun warm the room. Wear warm clothes and sweaters, and use blankets
while resting.
Avoid using space heaters
Avoid using supplemental
space heaters, including electric, kerosene or propane models. Not
only are they expensive to operate, they're also very dangerous.
Weatherization
Seal doors and windows with caulk,
weatherstripping and plastic film. An investment of $50 in weatherizing
supplies can reduce heating use by two to three times that much. Don't
forget the basement windows!
Keep air flow moving
Vacuum
registers and vents regularly, and don't let furniture and draperies
block the air flow. Change or clean your furnace filter once a month.
Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run
harder and eventually break down.
Install a digital thermostat
Install a clock-programmable
thermostat. If you use it to set back the temperature by 10 degrees
for eight hours every night, you'll lower your heating use by up to
10 percent. A $50 digital thermostat can pay for itself in energy savings
in less than a year.
Summer season tips:
Make your refrigerator work more efficiently
Refrigerators
are the biggest wasters of electricity in your household, mainly because
they are always running. Try this idea: when you remove an item from
the refrigerator, replace it with a container filled with cold water.
Refrigerators are like picnic coolers: items stay cold if it's packed
tight. The compressor will not turn on as often if the refrigerator
is filled. This also works with freezers, plus it reduces frost build-up.
Buy a heater blanket
If you
have a water heater that is at least six years old, buy a heater blanket.
A heater blanket is an insulated sleeve that wraps around the heater
and makes it work more efficiently. Blankets cost about $15 and will
pay for themselves over the course of a year.
Buy an overhead fan
If you
feel the need to purchase a fan, look into an overhead model. They
work best at cooling a room by providing maximum air movement, are
the most efficient, and add a decorative touch. If you don't or can't
go the overhead route, floor models with a vortex design are the best
purchase. A small vortex fan will circulate air 7-10 times better than
a standard oscillating model.
Drink plenty of fluids
Preferably water or
fruit juice. Avoid caffeine-heavy drinks such as coffee, cola or tea.
Caffeine stays in your system and raises your body temperature.
Keep your air conditioner’s thermostat
at 78-80 degrees
These sound like very warm settings, but they actually fit into
a reasonable comfort range.
Open windows whenever possible
When you open your
window, you allow for air circulation, create a natural breeze, and
cut down on cooling costs.
Another important warm weather tip
Be sure to check regularly
on elderly or homebound friends and relatives. Make certain that they
have "911" reminders
close to their telephones. Have them call you on a regular basis.
Be sure they get plenty of fluids. Excessive heat can be most dangerous
for the elderly and infirm, but with a little diligence, you can
make a big difference in their ability to weather the weather.
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