Seal air drafts and practice zone heating this winter

In many parts of our service territory, winter decided to come early this year. With frigid temperatures breaking records across the region this season, you may have noticed a sudden increase on your energy bill.  

Energy use increases when our home heating systems begin firing up more often. The more energy a home consumes, the higher its energy costs will be. This can present a challenge when we’re trying to maintain comfort in our homes but also keeping an eye on how much we spend.  

To maintain comfort and help manage your energy bill, seal cold air drafts to stop the heat inside your home from escaping. Air drafts are one of the most common culprits behind increased energy use and something any home can fall victim to. During mild weather, temperatures outside mirror our thermostat settings inside, so air drafts don’t pose much of a problem. However, in the winter, air outside is much colder than the air we’re comfortable with inside. Seal unwanted air transfer with items like window plastic, rope caulk and weather stripping.

For homes that must heat with baseboard, wall or space heaters, conserve energy by practicing zone heating. Operate these heaters in occupied areas only and shut doors to unused rooms to help reduce energy use.

Because water heating is the second largest energy consumer in our homes, lower water heater settings to 120 degrees and fix leaky faucets. Over the course of a year, just one drop per second from a leaky faucet can waste 2,500 gallons of hot water.