December  2000

As the weather turns colder…

... here are some tips for keeping your home comfortable and saving energy:

• Set your home thermostat no higher than 68 degrees.
  

• Check to make sure your foundation vents are closed.  If your vents do not close, taping a piece of plastic on the outside will help considerably.  This will keep your home warmer and help protect against frozen water pipes.
  

• If you’ve had problems with freezing pipes in the past, consider letting a cold water faucet drip continuously when the temperature is the coldest.
  

•  Check the weather stripping on exterior doors and windows.  Adjust or replace it if you can see light around the door.
  

• If you’ve decorated with holiday lights, only turn them on for a few hours in the evening.  Those Christmas lights are festive, but when combined with hundreds of other homes, they use considerable electricity.
  

• Make sure all unnecessary lights are off, particularly outdoor lighting, during the day.
  

• In the evening, close your drapes to help retain heat. Make sure your heating registers are not covered by the drapes.

Here’s A Checklist That May Further Reduce Your Electric Bill

• Replace the furnace filters monthly.
  

• Repair leaky or disconnected ductwork. 
  

• Weather-strip and insulate your attic access opening. 
  

• Repair plumbing leaks.
  

• Set the water heater temperature at 120 degrees. 
  

• Check the refrigerator/freezer gaskets for proper seal. 
  

• Wash the clothes in cold water. 
  

• Dry only full loads of clothes.
  

• Run only full loads in the dishwasher and air dry the dishes. 
  

• Plug the gaps around pipes, fans, ducts and vents between heated and unheated areas.

Wind Chill Table

With winter upon us, be sure to dress warmly, when in the great outdoors and follow manufacturers' instructions when using space heaters.