NYSERDA Press Releases

Follow New York Energy $mart^SM Tips For Lower Home Heating Bills This Winter

Albany, NY - With winter setting in, home heating can account for as much as 60 percent of your energy costs, but you can lower these costs by following these simple energy tips.

Heating

• For each degree you lower your thermostat in winter, you can save three percent on your heating bill. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
• Install a programmable thermostat. It can be set to raise or lower the temperature of your home to coordinate with your schedule, so you don't pay for heat you're not enjoying. They cost about $25 and will lead to instant savings in energy bills.
• Keep furniture away from radiators and heating registers where they can block heat from entering the room.
• Make sure your furnace receives a professional tune-up each year and replace the furnace air filter once a month.
• Open your draperies, blinds or curtains on the sunny side of your home to increase solar heat buildup and close them at night to reduce heat loss.
• Place insulation wrap around your hot water heater.
• Lower your water heater temperature to 125 degrees or the "low" setting. This avoids accidental scalding and reduces energy consumption.
• Since 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water, use the cold rinse cycle whenever possible.

Weatherizing

If you can slide a playing card through the crevice of an outside door or window, you need more weatherstripping. Air sealing affects the amount of combustion air available for your heating system.

• Kitchen and dryer vents are often poorly sealed where they pass through walls or ceilings. Use heat-resistant caulking and metal collar plates to fix faulty seals.
• If you have a fireplace, install glass doors and close the damper to keep heated air from escaping up the chimney.
• Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows.
• Place plastic-seal wrap around old or drafty windows.
• Use door sweeps to prevent unnecessary drafts.
• Insulate your attic or other areas that may be poorly insulated.

To reduce your energy bills by as much as 40 percent, try the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program. Certified contractors can conduct a home assessment to find where improvements can be made. With different financing options and incentives available, you can improve the energy efficiency, health and safety, and overall value of your home. All you've got to lose is your high heating bills. For more information, visit www.GetEnergySmart.org or call toll-free 1-877-NYsmart.

###