Here are some simple ways to lower bills:
–Lower thermostats by just one degree, which may reduce heating bills by up to 3 percent. Save even more by lowering thermostats two degrees during the day when at home, and five to ten degrees when you are away and at bedtime, if health conditions permit.
–Close fireplace dampers when not in use.
–Close and latch windows.
–Set hot water heaters to no more than 120 degrees.
–Move furniture and drapes away from heating registers, radiators, and baseboard element covers. Open any register or baseboard dampers.
–Remove or cover window air conditioners to reduce drafts. Install insulated or lined drapes on windows.
–Open curtains and blinds that face the sun on sunny days to warm a home, and close them at night to keep the warm air inside.
–Use weather stripping or caulk to seal up cracks and prevent drafts in windows and doorframes. Beneath doors, install draft guards available at hardware stores.
-Use a shrink film insulation kit, commonly available at home improvement centers, on drafty windows or make one from plastic sheeting and double-faced tape.
–Seal wall switches and electrical outlets on exterior walls of a home with small foam gaskets available from home improvement centers and hardware stores. Remove the cover plate, insert the gasket, and screw the cover plate back in place.
–Keep a garage door closed if the garage is attached to the house.
–If a budget permits, install (or have installed) a programmable thermostat that can be set to automatically lower room temperatures when rooms are not in use and at bedtime if health conditions permit.
–Check for sufficient water levels in the sight glass for steam heating systems to ensure maximum efficiency. Clean or replace the furnace filter on hot air heating systems.
When making home improvements, always wear the appropriate safety equipment such as eye protection, gloves and a mask to protect against dust; and remember to check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for proper operation and replace their batteries at least once every year.
More energy saving tips and tools are available at www.pseg.com/saveenergy.
