As temperatures continue to drop and days start to shorten, we can also expect to see energy bills rise. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), this winter heating for households using natural gas, propane and heating oil are expected to increase.

In preparation for rising energy costs, I wanted to share a few tips from my client Tide and the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) that might be useful for readers who are looking for simple ways to conserve energy and save money around the house.

• Plug up leaks to the outside. Seal air leaks with sealant, caulking and weather stripping; and install appropriate insulation for your climate to increase your overall comfort. In addition to making your home quieter and cleaner, you can reduce your heating costs up to 20%.[1]
• Keep furnace filters clean. You should check your filter every month, especially during the heavy-use winter and summer months, as a dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm. At a minimum, you should change the filter every three months to avoid higher energy use, cost, maintenance and/or early system failure by preventing dust and dirt from building up.[1]
• Let a programmable thermostat help you remember to lower the heat while your home is empty and/or overnight. Not only can this help reduce heating costs by up to 10%, but it will also allow you to come home and wake up to a toasty, comfortable house.[1]
• Save on energy and the cost of heating hot water. The most expensive aspect of doing laundry is heating the water. By switching to cold water washing – with a detergent like Tide Coldwater – you can save up to 50% of energy per load. With a High Efficiency washing machine, you can do three loads of wash in cold using the same energy as one wash in hot. Given that only 40% of consumers are using cold water to wash most of their loads, this is a quick and easy way people can save money and energy during winter months.         

Alliance to Save Energy. 13 Oct. 2011.  http://www.ase.org/news/energy-efficiency-can-%E2%80%98insulate%E2%80%99-against-expected-higher-heating-costs