With cold weather setting in across the United States, homeowners are
looking for ways to heat their homes while reducing their energy bills
to save money. The average family spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. The
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program offers five easy energy saving tips
that can help families stay warm while keeping money in their wallets.
This winter season, follow these five tips to help you save
money on heating billsand keep your home comfortable:
1. Assess your home @ energystar.gov.
Start with the Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home’s energy use
to similar homes across the country and see how your home measures up.
Then, use the Home Energy Advisor to get recommendations for
energy-saving home improvements for typical homes in your area.
2. Seal air leaks in your home.
Sealing air leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will
have a significant impact on improving your comfort and reducing energy
bills. If you are adding insulation to your home, be sure to seal air
leaks first, to ensure you get the best performance from your
insulation.
3. Maintain heating equipment. Dirt
and neglect are the number one causes of heating system failure. To
maintain your equipment, check your system’s air filter every month and
change it if it is dirty. At a minimum, change it every three months.
Schedule pre-season checkups for your equipment with a licensed
contractor to make sure your system is operating at
peak performance.
4. Use a programmable thermostat.
Control your home’s temperature while you’re away or asleep by using
one of the convenient pre-programmed settings on a programmable
thermostat. When used properly, programmable thermostats can save you up
to $180 every year in energy costs.
5. Look for Energy Star qualified products.
Whether you are replacing light bulbs or appliances in your home,
Energy Star qualified products can help you save energy and reduce
energy bills. The Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 types
of products ranging from heating and cooling equipment to compact
fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Also, look to EPA’s
Energy Star program for advice on other ways you can save at home such
as using power strips as a central turn-off point for electronics and
office equipment, making sure computers and monitors are powered down
when not in use, and reversing the blade rotation on ceiling fans to
help spread warm air around a room.
If every American household followed these heating and cooling
tips, they could save $14 billion in annual energy costs.
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