October is Energy Awareness Month. Here are some energy saving tips to help reduce energy usage before you get that first winter heating bill.
Weatherization tips from the U. S. Department of Energy:
- During the day open curtains on the south-facing windows – sunlight will provide natural heat and close them at night
- Cover drafty windows using clear plastic sheeting on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of the window frames
- When you are awake set your home thermostat as low as is comfortable and turn it back when you are asleep or out of the house
- If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting
- Find and seal leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes, caps around chimneys, recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets
- Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows
- Schedule routine maintenance for home heating systems
- Replace furnace filters as recommended
- Regularly, clean the flue vent of wood and pellet-burning heaters and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees
- Use LED or light-emitting diode string lights for the holidays
For more energy-saving tips visit https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/weatherization