Energy Saving Tips

     The following tips will help you save on your energy bill:

All Seasons - Energy Saving Tips

• Make sure all doors and windows have their proper weatherstripping in place.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Have your air-conditioning or heating equipment maintained regularly.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.

Summer Cooling - Energy Saving Tips

• Make sure all doors and windows have their proper weatherstripping in place.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• Shades, curtains, or windows tint can help reduce the solar transmission of heat through your windows.
• Fans throughout your house help circulate air and provide a cool feeling.

Winter Heating - Energy Saving Tips

• Make sure all doors and windows have their proper weatherstripping in place.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and as high as is comfortable in the summer.
• During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your southfacing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• You can use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Remember, the plastic must be sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
• Install exterior or interior storm windows; storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%. Storm windows should have weatherstripping at all moveable joints; be made of strong, durable materials; and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Low-e storm windows save even more energy.