Threshold Dec. 18

MANAGE YOUR
WINTER HEATING BILL
Adjusting the Thermostat
You can keep your house comfortable and save energy
by strategically adjusting your thermostat. Consider
installing a programmable thermostat, which
allows you to easily to set a schedule to maximize
your savings.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you
can save as much as 1% on your fuel bill for each
eight hours you set the thermostat back one degree.
That means that if you set your thermostat back each
night from 70° to 65° while you sleep, you could
add a blanket to your bed and save as much as 5%
on your heating costs.
Or, if your family is out of the house at work or
school during the day, keeping the house 10° or
even as much as 15° lower when no one is home
could result in significant savings.
Reducing Air Leaks
By sealing air leaks in a home, an average household
can cut 10% of its monthly energy bill.
• Use caulk to seal any cracks or small openings
on non-moving surfaces, such as where window
frames meet the house structure.
• Check the weather stripping in exterior door
frames and replace any that is deteriorated or
cracked.
• Inspect utility cut-throughs for pipes (plumping
penetrations), gaps around chimneys and recessed
lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished
spaces behind cupboards and closets. You can buy
material that expands to fill the gaps and keep air
from flowing through.
• Examine ductwork for splits or gaps that have
developed in the ducts. If your home is heated by
forced air, examine the ductwork and use duct sealant
or metal-backed tape on any leaks.
• Check registers and grills to make sure they are
tightly sealed to ducts.
Calling in the Experts
If you want to learn even more about how to manage
the specific energy consumption of your home, consider
hiring a professional energy auditor to evaluate
your home and identify all the inefficiencies. The
long-term energy savings of your home should more
than make up for the initial cost of the audit.
The energy expert will show you how low-cost
improvements can improve your home’s efficiency.
And, the audit may suggest more expensive improvements,
such as upgrading to energy-efficient
appliances and high-performance windows to help
improve your heating bills.
For more home heating tips and information, visit
the U.S. Department of Energy at Energy.gov.
Consider hiring a professional energy
auditor to evaluate your home and identify
all the inefficiencies.
THRESHOLD DECEMBER 2018 7