Conservation/Environment Winter Energy Conservation Tips

You can stay comfortable indoors without sending your thermostat - and energy bill – through the roof. Here are a few tips on cold-weather conservation.

• Check weather stripping on exterior doors and windows. Adjust or replace it if you can see light or feel a draft.
• Check ceiling and crawl spaces to ensure there is adequate insulation.
• Check your furnace and heat pump filters once a month. Replace if dirty.
• Close fireplace damper and glass doors when fireplace is not in use. Don't use your fireplace in the coldest weather.
• Fix broken ducts and replace cracked or peeling tape on ducts. Use tape with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) logo and labeled for heating ducts.
• Check to make sure foundation vents are closed for the winter. If your vents do not close, taping a piece of plastic on the outside will help considerably.
• In the evening, close your drapes to retain heat. Make sure heating registers are not covered by the drapes or furniture.
• Lower your thermostat at night and when not at home. Use a programmable thermostat if you have a heat pump.
• Dress warmer on colder days; it's less expensive than turning up the heat.
• Take advantage of natural daylight as much as possible.

Tips for winter AND the rest of the year:

• Use energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or LEDs.
• Upgrade to efficient ENERGY STAR appliances.
• Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees.
• Use the cold water setting for clothes washer loads.
• Keep your refrigerator at 38 degrees and freezer at 10 degrees.

Need more ideas? Call our Conservation Department at (509) 661-8008.