Easy Fall Energy Saving Tips
September 5, 2017
Published September 5, 2017
With the passing of Labor Day, our summer is unofficially over. As you get ready for the inevitable cooler weather ahead, here are a few easy tips to try to keep your home running efficiently and your energy bills as low as possible.
- Adjust your thermostat. The Department of Energy recommends setting the temperature at 68 degrees when you are awake and turning it down about 10 degrees while you are away or asleep.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to control when your furnace turns on and off throughout the day.
- Service your furnace to make sure it runs efficiently as the weather starts to cool down.
- Take advantage of the sun. Open up your curtains and blinds throughout the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home.
- Check windows and doors for leaks and seal leaks before the cold weather hits.
- Layer up. Bundle up during the colder months to reduce energy costs.
- Cook and bake efficiently. Use lids on pots and pans to reduce cooking time. Bake multiple things at once. Use crockpots and microwaves to save energy.
- Keep fridge and freezers full but not crowded. If your fridge or freezer is empty, fill milk jugs with water to fill up space and throw out old food if your fridge or freezer is too full.
- Inspect and clean your fireplace. Make sure your fireplace is safe before using. Close fireplace dampers when you are not using the fireplace to prevent heat from escaping.
- Redirect ceiling fans. Switch the rotation of your ceiling fan to clockwise, operate at a slow rate and push warm air down.