Newswise — With natural gas and oil prices still on the rise in the wake of this season's hurricanes and temperatures beginning to drop, homeowners this winter face a difficult dilemma: How to keep energy costs manageable?
Dealing with utility bills and even saving money during frigid weather is actually much easier than many people realize, said Beth Parks, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Colgate University. Parks teaches a course called Energy and the Home in which she and her students perform energy audits and show homeowners in the community how to make their houses more energy-efficient.
She provided a few of her tried-and-true tips for controlling costs during the winter and beyond:
Chill out, when possible. One quick, inexpensive fix for reducing energy costs, said Parks, is to install a programmable thermostat. The devices, which cost in the neighborhood of $30 to $100, usually store at least four temperature settings a day, regulate furnace turn-on times, and save multiple daily heat programs. "The lower the temperature of your house, the slower it loses warmth, so set the thermostat at night and when no one is home for as cold as you can stand it," Parks said. "You could potentially save as much as $100 a year in heating costs."
Insulate. Contrary to what some homeowners think, many houses older than the 1940s are not insulated, said Parks. Consider blowing insulation in the walls, or laying batts of insulation in the attic. "It will be a fairly substantial initial cost — maybe as much as $7,000 or $8,000 for a whole house, depending on the size — but you will eventually see a return on your investment in reduced heating bills," she said.
No extra pane, no gain. A lot of homes lose warmth through single-pane windows, said Parks, since such windows provide just one layer of protection from the cold and elements. "If you have single-pane windows, think about replacing them with top-of-the-line double- or triple-pane ones — the increased savings make it worth it to install the more expensive windows in harsh climates," she advised. "Doing so is expensive, so it may take 30 years for the energy savings to repay the initial costs, but you will increase the comfort and value of your house." If that course of action isn't an option, Parks suggested applying plastic interior storms over them instead.
Check out what your state has to offer. Many government agencies sponsor grant and loan programs to help low- to moderate-income families make their homes more energy efficient, said Parks. It pays to do a little bit of research on what your state provides, she explained. The website for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority at www.nyserda.org, for example, contains links to lists of funding opportunities, programs, and certified building analysts and performance inspectors who can perform relatively inexpensive energy audits and make recommendations.
Hire a professional. An energy auditor can help you locate many places where air escapes from your house. "You'd be surprised at how many homes lose heat through plumbing openings and electrical outlets, attic or basement staircases, or exhaust fans or flues," Parks said. Once found, such leaks are very inexpensive to fix, quickly repaying the cost of hiring a professional.
Deep-six that ancient fridge. If you own a refrigerator older than 15 years of so, get rid of it — and resist the temptation to keep it running in the basement, said Parks. Since the 1990s, there have been many advances in energy efficiency for appliances. Replacing an old fridge with a new one can save about $100 in electricity bills per year, she added.
Consider fluorescent. Instead of using standard light bulbs in the house, said Parks, try a few compact fluorescent bulbs. "They have come a long way in terms of efficiency," she explained. "They can be found in a wide variety of sizes and wattages, and can be used almost anywhere a normal bulb is used."
Look for the "Energy Star." "Any time you're thinking of purchasing any kind of new appliance—furnaces, dehumidifiers, or even computers or DVD players—make sure that you buy one with the 'Energy Star' label on it," said Parks. The Energy Star program, she explained, is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The initiative certifies products in more than 40 different appliance categories that use less energy, save money, and protect the environment. "You can sleep easier knowing you have an Energy Star product," she added.
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