10 Tips to Reduce High Heating Costs

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected this winter's heating bills to be dramatically higher than last year. The crunch is due to tight production capacity, weak petroleum inventories, and high worldwide fuel demand, plus predictions of a winter 2% colder than average. By acting now, consumers can save money, improve their comfort, and protect the environment with simple energy-saving measures.
 
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggests that consumers take these "top ten" steps to get ready for winter:

1. Seal air leaks in ceilings/attic floors, at baseboards and electric outlets in exterior walls, and around exterior windows and doors.
   
   
2. Seal leaky air ducts at joints, starting at the furnace air handler, and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements or attics.
   
   
3. Hire a professional to tune up existing heating equipment, including changing air filters.
   
   
4. Turn off lights, and home office and entertainment equipment when not in use.
   
   
5. Install an ENERGY STAR-rated thermostat and program it to set back temperatures when you are asleep or away.
   
   
6. Insulate hot water pipes leading from your water heater, and install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
   
   
7. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
   
   
8. Consider replacing an old refrigerator, clothes washer, or water heater.
   
   
9. Check your attic insulation and consider improving the "R-value" to R-38.
   
   
10. Invest in energy-efficient, right-sized heating equipment with the help of a good contractor.

ACEEE Senior Associate Jennifer Thorne Amann says that if your existing boiler or furnace is older than about 20 years, and/or has a standing pilot light, it is obsolete and wasting huge amounts of energy. Households in cold and even moderate climates should consider replacing such a unit with a new, high-efficiency condensing unit. In most of the country, high-efficiency gas boilers and furnaces (with AFUE ratings of 88% and higher) can be highly cost-effective.

Electricity prices remain at an all-time high in most regions of the country. In cold climates especially, electric heating can be very expensive to operate. Cold-climate and geothermal heat pumps may be a viable option for a Northeastern home, but these units will not work for everybody. If you think you're out of options, however, upgrading heating equipment is not the only way to save this winter. According to ACEEE Researcher Katie Ackerly, "Installing compact fluorescent light bulbs in your five most-used light fixtures and turning off electronic appliances can shave real money off your bills."

Residents in the South and West that depend on electricity for heat can expect a 4% increase in heating costs. In these climates, the best options to save this winter are to tighten up the house and invest in a high-efficiency heat pump, particularly in houses that currently use baseboard heaters. This upgrade will not only save in the winter, but throughout the cooling season as well. Southern and Western households with natural gas will get the most "bang for the buck" by hiring a professional to tune up their furnace, repairing ductwork, and investing in a high-efficiency furnace fan.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036-5525 or visit http://aceee.org.