Keep warm air inside and cold air out by weatherizing your home.
Apply weather-stripping around doors and caulk around windows.
Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlet and switch covers. Outlet safety plugs can further insulate them and keep children from inserting fingers or other items inside.
Make sure your home is properly insulated. A professional can inspect your insulation and recommend any changes to improve efficiency.
Check to ensure proper closure of all windows.
Installing storm windows can help provide additional insulation, reduce energy costs and reduce exterior noise.
Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust temperature settings for certain times of the day and days of the week. Programming your thermostat to 65 degrees for at least 8 hours a day – when away or sleeping – can lower your heating bill about 10 percent.
Clean or replace your furnace filter at least once a month. Dirty filters can make your furnace work harder and use more energy.
Close heating vent and door to one unused room. Note: closing off more than one room can cause a problem for the air delivery system or cause ductwork to blow loose from fittings.
To prevent warm indoor air from escaping through the chimney, close the damper on wood-burning fireplaces when not in use.
Turn your water heater setting to 120 degrees to save up to 10 percent on water heating costs. Hot water doesn’t need to be heated
A water heater tank that’s warm to the touch may need additional insulation. Adding a low-cost insulation blanket can save up to 9 percent in water heating costs.
Wash laundry in cold water to save up to $60 per year, and clean the lint filter on your dryer after each load.
Switch your five most-used light bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps to save 75 percent on lighting costs. CFLs use one-fourth the energy of regular bulbs and last 10 times longer.
When not in use, turn off or unplug lights, electronics and appliances.
Clean the coils on your refrigerator at least once a year for more efficient operation.
Use a timer for holiday lights and have them on for no more than six hours each evening to limit energy costs.
Install a carbon monoxide alarm on each floor of your home.
Check your fireplace for blockages. If the walls are black and shiny, almost like coal, have the chimney cleaned. A blocked chimney can be deadly when gases aren’t able to vent properly.
To reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, open a nearby window slightly when using a wood-burning fireplace.
Keep natural gas appliances clean and properly vented. Never cover air vents that supply fresh air to your appliances.
Keep the area clear around your furnace and water heater.
Have your furnace and other natural gas-burning appliances inspected annually by a licensed heating contractor.
To assist you with your efficiency and safety checklist:
Home energy efficiency profile and water efficiency profile: a free, comprehensive home profile provides you with an analysis of your energy and water use so you can make changes where necessary.
Home efficiency rebates: Before you make efficiency improvements, check out our available rebates to help offset the cost of improvements, so you can start saving even sooner.
HomeVantage® Service Referral: free referrals for local contractors who can provide estimates to perform efficiency and safety improvements in and around your home. Call 448-4800.
