Three Energy Saving Tips for this Winter

The Farmer’s Almanac tells us that winter will be colder and drier than normal, although snowfall will be above normal in most of the region. The coldest and snowiest periods will be in early and mid-December and in early to mid-February. Who knows if this will hold true, but just in case, here are 3 easy tips to be more energy efficient this year:

1. Turn down the thermostat and the water heater ~ Try 68 degrees on your thermostat and put on a sweater (or a Snuggie). For every degree that you lower the thermostat in the 60-80 degree range you will save 5% on heating costs. Also turn the water heater down to 120 degrees.

2. Clean your heating system ~ Replace the filters for your heat pump or forced hot air systems and have your gas and oil furnace cleaned to run more efficiently. On that note, many warranties for heat pumps are voided if the reason for the inadequate heating system is a dirty air filter. Also, bleed your radiators to release trapped air if they are not heating properly.

3. Look for where cold air creeps in and hot air is lost. Perform a DIY energy audit or call a professional that use a blower door test and/or an infrared camera.

And if it snows I will see you in the Kroger check-out line with my milk and bread…Or we can just all stay home in our Snuggies.