Warming Up

Keep Efficiency in Mind During Colder Months

Winter may not last as long in South Alabama, but that’s no reason to disregard energy efficiency during the cold months, especially when it saves you money.

Follow these tips to stay warm and keep your electricity costs in check:

• Open curtains or shades to let in the sun’s warmth during the day. Close them in the evening to help keep the cold out.
• Drafty window or door? Seal any gaps you can with caulk or weatherstripping, depending on where the gap is located. Caulk works best to fill gaps in framing, while weatherstripping is designed for areas that open and close. There are also window film kits that can be used for temporary insulation.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades over windows that still feel drafty after weatherizing.
• Keep the temperature on your thermostat as low as you are comfortable with when you’re at home and awake. Turn your heat down even more when you are asleep or not at home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, turning the thermostat back can save you as much as 10% on heating and cooling costs.
• Install a programmable thermostat to easily control the temperature. Programmable and smart thermostats allow you to program your heating and cooling unit to automatically adjust the temperature of your home based on your schedule.
• Maintain your heating system by scheduling routine service, and regularly replace your system’s filter.
• If you have a fireplace you’re not using, make sure the damper is closed. The damper should only be open when a fire is burning; otherwise, it’s like having a window open, allowing the warm air in your home to escape.
• Keep your water heater on a warm setting, like 120 degrees, to save energy and avoid scalding. After heating and cooling, a water heater is the biggest energy user in a home. If possible, have a timer installed on your water heater so that it doesn’t cycle on and off when you’re not at home. Insulate the pipes attached to your water heater, and if you have an older model, insulate the tank itself.
• Reverse the direction your ceiling fan blades spin to keep warm air circulating lower in a room. Most fans have a switch on the base that allows you to do this.
• Use space heaters efficiently. They are designed to heat a single room, so close all doors to trap the warmth in the room you’re heating. Also, use your space heater judiciously. A typical space heater uses 1,500 watts, or 1.5 kilowatt hours, of electricity. So, if you’re a member of South Alabama Electric Cooperative, using a typical space heater for 8 hours a day will cost you about $1.52 a day. If you use it 8 hours every day over a 30-day period, that’s nearly $46 tacked onto your electric bill.