Stop 'Old Man Winter' from Increasing Your Energy Bills

Washington, DC, October 1, 1998 — After a summer of record-breaking heat and skyrocketing energy bills, millions of Americans are no doubt looking forward to cool autumn weather. With autumn, however, comes the inevitability of winter a season that can yield freezing temperatures as devastating to your energy bill as the sweltering heat.

With Energy Awareness Month in October, the Alliance to Save Energy offers tips on how to stay warm and comfortable this winter while saving money, energy, and decreasing pollution at the same time.

• Make sure your furnace receives a professional tune-up each year. Clean or replace air filters once a month.
• If you are replacing your furnace, major appliances, or windows, look for the Energy Star label for the most energy-efficient model. Households that replace existing equipment with Energy Star products can cut annual energy bills by 30 percent. Energy Star equipment meets federally-defined energy performance levels.
• Tired of awakening to a chilling bedroom every winter? A programmable thermostat will automatically coordinate your home temperature with your daily and weekend patterns to increase comfort and monetary savings.
• Don't like coming home to a dark house on those short winter days? Instead of leaving lights on, put timers on a few of the lights in your home, or install motion detectors on exterior floodlights to improve your home security. After you get inside, the sensor will "remember" to turn the lights off.
• Make sure your attic and/or ceiling are well insulated. Seal joints in attic air ducts and make sure they are well insulated too.
• Let the sun help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.
• Consider landscaping around the home. Planting evergreen trees on the north side of a home can block winter winds.
• Think "warm" thoughts — Thanksgiving turkey, hot chocolate, and how you'll be sweltering again next summer and dealing with big air conditioning bills if you don't plug the air leaks in your home.