Tips for the Home

Reduce air leaks and cut as much as 10% from your monthly energy bill. Be sure to use caulk or weather-stripping to seal leaks around:

Set thermostats between 65° and 70° during the winter, and at 58° when away from the house for more than a few hours.

By turning your thermostat back 10°-15° for eight straight hours, you can save about 5%-15% a year on your heating bill — a savings of as much as 1% for each degree.

Turn down thermostats automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing a programmable thermostat.

Change or clean furnace air filters once a month during the heating season.

Furnaces consume less energy if they “breathe” more easily. Use the arrival of your natural gas bill as your reminder to change the filter.

Warm air rises, so use registers to direct warm airflow across the floor.

Close vents and doors in unused rooms. Close dampers on unused fireplaces.

Set your water heater to 120° or the medium temperature setting.

Drain a quart of water from the bottom of your water heating tank every three months to remove sediment that can hamper the efficiency of your unit.

Insulate water heaters with insulation blankets in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.

Install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets.

If radiators are located near cold walls, place a sheet of aluminum foil between the radiator and the wall to reflect heat back into the room.

Run washing machines and clothes dryers with a full load.

On sunny days, open curtains and blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight.

Close them at night or on cloudy days to insulate against the cold air outside.

Replace your standard incandescent light bulbs with new, energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs.