Winter Tips

Furnace

Since your home's heating and cooling system can use about half of your total electricy bill when you are trying to stay warm in the winter reducing your electricity usage can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help in this battle.

• Have your heating or cooling system's equipment checked every season by a qualified technition to make sure it is running properly.
• Turn your thermostat down to the lowest comfortable setting.
• Change your heating and cooling system's air filters every month.
• Make sure your registers are not blocked by draperies, rugs, or furniture.

Insulation

• Make sure your home is adequately insulated. Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic, exterior walls, and floors that are above cold spaces.
• Use weather stripping around your doors and windows.
• Seal cracks and crevices where two buildings meet.
• If you have a window air conditioning unit in your window, remove it for the winter months. This will help heat from escaping through and around it.

Household

• Insulate under your water heater with at least R-6 insulation.
• Open your drapes during the daytime on sunny days to take advantage of solar energy.

Summer Tips

Insulation

• Check your weather stripping and caulk around all windows and doors on the outside of your house and inside.
• Close blinds, shades, and drapes during the hottest parts of the day.
• Make sure your attic is properly ventilated to release excess heat in the summer months.