Baby, it's cold outside

Have you felt the need to bundle up lately? Is that breeze getting a little too cool for comfort? Winter is just around the corner and your house is feeling the chill, too.

Ever wonder how your energy use can increase if you haven’t changed anything in your home? Consider a warm cup of coffee. In the summer, a warm cup of coffee will stay warm for quite some time, even if placed outside. If placed outside during the winter though, it would cool down rather quickly. Even if you don’t touch your thermostat, your home reacts the same as a cup of coffee – retaining heat in warmer weather and losing it in cooler weather.

Why does this matter? As the temperature outside drops, your house cools down more quickly, causing its heating system to run more frequently and for longer periods of time. This causes your energy consumption to spike, increasing your energy bill – typically between October and February. The cost of heating your home can account for 40% to 60% of your monthly winter energy bill, so what can you do to help manage your energy usage?

Use this handy checklist to get started:

• Adjust thermostat - Reducing the temperature just three degrees can result in a 10% reduction on your bill.
• Check water heater – Water heating accounts for nearly 14% of your monthly usage and is the 2nd largest source of consumption in your home.
• Seal drafts and leaks – Use items like insulation, window plastic, caulk, and weather stripping to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
• Check fireplace dampers – When not in use, a chimney can draw off as much as 25% of the heated air in your house if the damper is left open.
• Change furnace filter & remove buildup on baseboard heaters – Dust and debris will block heat transfer, so even if your heater clicks on, your room will not warm up efficiently. Our Furnace Filter Program can help ensure you never forget to replace your filter again.