QUICK TIPS
Save Money on Your Utility Bills this Winter

Spend less on your Utility bills this winter and enjoy your energy savings

• Do a walk around the outide of your home. Make a list of all the little things that need to be done. You will probably find windows that need a caulking job, or see gaps in doors that need some attention.
• Do a walk around the inside of your home, paying special attention to the outer envelope. You may see cracks or gaps which you didn't notice from outside. Make a list of these little projects.
• Take on these little projects one at a time, on the weekend, early before winter sets in.
• Cover your swamp cooler if you have one. Put a duct pillow in the swamp cooler ductwork so heat cannot escape.
• Caulk cracks and gaps
• Inspect and replace any weather strips around your doors that are worn.
• This may be the time to upgrade your insulation in the attic.
• Add a programmable thermostat to control your furnace. You can program lower heat at night when everyone is sleeping. You can set back the heat when everyone is at work and school.
• Consider adding a zone system to your furnace ducting. A zone system will allow you to turn down, and leave down, areas of your home not being used often. The zone system will also give you thermostats in each zone, so each zone can be programmed for high and low use times of the day, or week.
• If you have rooms which face the sun, open the curtains during the day. Let the sun help with your heating.
• Turn down your water heater.
• Cover your water heater with an insualation blanket.
• If your water heater is old, consider replacing it with a new higher efficiency unit.
• Check into your local energy assistance programs. You may qualify for help on your utility bills. Every little bit helps.
• Tune up that furnace. Change your filter regularly. A plugged filter greatly reduces your furnaces ability to distribute heat properly.
• If it is time, replace that heating dinosaur with a more efficient furnace. You may qualify for a Federal tax credit and a Utility company rebate, which can offset the cost of a new higher efficiency unit.
• Install low-flow shower heads. This takes some of the strain off your water heater.
• Invest in energy saving light bulbs. Keep your curtains open during the day, so the lights are not used as often.
• If it is time to replace, invest in other high efficiency appliances, which meet Energy Star standards, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers.

Sure, you can't do all of these suggetions all at one time, but implementing as many as possible of these tips now can substantially lower your winter utility bills. And the energy savings from this year can help with next years project list.

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