Fight Old Man Winter with These Quick and Easy Tips from NSTAR
January 12, 2010
With our region currently in the grips of an extended cold snap, it’s especially important for folks to be armed with quick and easy ways to make the most of their heating dollars. Nearly half of a home’s annual energy use goes to heating and cooling, so NSTAR is offering the following tips to help save energy and lower heating bills throughout the winter months.
Lower indoor temperatures – Setting thermostats no higher than 68 degrees when home and lowering them when going to bed or leaving for the day saves energy and money. Every degree a thermostat is lowered can reduce heating bills by about two percent.
Let the sun shine in – Keeping shades and curtains open during the day on the south side of the home allows the sun to warm the room. Closing them again at night helps to retain heat.
Remember the air flow – Moving furniture and draperies away from radiators, baseboard heaters and air vents will keep heated air circulating properly. Radiators, registers and baseboard heaters operate most efficiently when they’re dust-free.
Find and fix air leaks – Reducing air leaks could cut 10 percent from an average household's monthly energy bill. The most common places where air escapes from homes are doors, windows, fireplaces, plumbing openings, exhaust fans, electrical outlets and foundation sills.
Enjoy the reflection – Placing a sheet of aluminum foil between radiators and walls allows for more even and efficient heating by reflecting heat back into the room.
Add more layers – Increasing the amount of insulation in attics, basements and outside walls will lower heat loss. Attics are generally the easiest and most cost-effective places to add more insulation.
Learn from the pros – Signing up for an energy audit is a great way to learn more about efficiency improvements and ways to make them more affordable. NSTAR customers can get more information by calling 800-632-8300 or by reading this month’s Bill’s Bright Ideas column.
NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
