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There are dozens of free and low-cost ways to keep your energy costs under
control during the winter heating season. Keep in mind - nearly half of your
energy bill in the winter goes toward heating your home. Therefore, maintaining
your furnace and keeping the thermostat dialed down are the two most important
ways to save. Here are some ideas to help lower you winter energy bills:
Have your furnace maintained annually
by a qualified technician and check your air filter monthly. Having a professional inspection of your heating system on a regular
basis will help lower your heating bills 3 to 10% as well as maximize the life of your furnace.
Consider upgrading to a high-efficiency
furnace if your unit is more than 15 years old: Replacing your
old heating equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment can
cut your annual energy bill by nearly $200. Plus, Indiana customers can earn a
$275 rebate from Vectren when purchasing a qualifying unit that's at least 95% efficient. Ohio customers are eligible for a a
$300 rebate when purchasing a qualifying unit that's at least 95% efficient.
Open blinds, shades and draperies to
let in the sun’s heat during the day. Remember to close them at
night.
Make sure vents are not blocked
by furniture or drapers to ensure proper air flow.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan. By changing the direction to clockwise in
the winter, the fan will circulate the warm air.
Turn off the ceiling fan
when not in the room. Ceiling fans warm people, not rooms. If the room is
unoccupied, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.
Turn down the thermostat.
An optimal setting for improved energy efficiency is at or below 68 degrees.
For every degree you turn down the temperature, you could save 1% to 3% on your heating bill.
Consider purchasing and installing a
programmable thermostat. You can save about $180 a year by properly setting your programmable
thermostats and maintaining those settings. Plus, Indiana customers with
natural gas service can receive a $20 rebate for installing a new, ENERGY STAR qualified
unit.
Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors to
keep the cold air from escaping. These two simple air sealing techniques—will pay for themselves in energy
savings within one year. Click here
to watch a how-to video on caulking or click
here for the how-to video on weather-stripping.
Close the fireplace damper
when not in use. An open damper will allow the warm air to escape.
Vectren does not endorse any particular product or wholesaler.
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Learn more at VectrenLiveSmart.com
Watch a video that shows a variety of easy, inexpensive ways to cut heating costs during cooler weather.
Learn more at VectrenLiveSmart.com
Click here to learn how to keep energy usage under control during the holidays.
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