ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP: Take Whole-House Approach to Save Energy This Winter

No matter what kind of heating system you have in your home, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy efficient furnace alone will not have as big of an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30 percent on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions. Here are a few tips: 

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter and lower the temperature when you're sleeping or away from home. 
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as recommended by the manufacturer. 
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed, and make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. 
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are finished cooking or bathing. When replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models. 
• During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night. 

Select energy efficient products when you buy new heating equipment. Your contractor should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage.  

Source: Energy.gov