Reduce Your Home Heating Costs And Protect Your Budget
Don't let cold weather and higher energy bills get you hot
under the collar. Energy experts offer these steps to help
control your heating costs and protect your budget from
unexpected increases in natural gas and electricity rates:
Shop around for your energy provider. Many states allow you to
buy natural gas and electricity from an independent marketer.
Check to see which companies offer the most desirable
plans.
Consult an expert. Seek out an energy
marketer. These professionals work with consumers to determine
their best energy choices based on usage, climate, home size
and other factors.
Check to see if you can lock in your energy rates. Enrolling in
this type of plan will help protect you from spikes in energy
rates. Much like a fixed-rate mortgage, a fixed-rate energy
plan helps you stabilize your budget and prepare for the
heating season.
Conserve energy by managing your thermostat. Setting the
thermostat to 55 degrees, or lower, at night or when leaving
home can lead to savings of as much as 20 percent on your
heating costs. You should also wear warm clothing inside and
set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day. You
can save up to 5 percent on heating costs for every degree you
lower your heat during the winter.
Don't cook your clothes. Use cold or warm water when washing
clothes--it's the detergent, not water temperature, which
determines how clean your clothes are going to be. Avoid
overdrying clothes when using the dryer.
Use energy efficient appliances. When installing a new water
heater or furnace, research which options are the most energy
efficient. You'll save on energy costs and you might be
pleasantly surprised to learn that you qualify for a rebate
from your energy provider if you choose energy efficient
models.
Inspect and maintain your furnace. Ensure your furnace is
operating at peak performance by having an annual inspection
and routine system maintenance performed.
Clean filters and vents. Dirty or clogged furnace and air
filters can demand more energy and slow the heating of your
home.
Make sure your house is properly insulated. Poorly insulated
doors, windows and vents cost you money. You can reduce the
amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home by having a
professional check that your home has the proper insulation.
By:
Stacey Moore
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