Consumer Tips:
Top ten ways to save on your heating bill

1. Turn it down!! Lowering your thermostat setting by one degree in the winter can save as much as three percent of the energy used by your heating system.
2. Who needs a warm attic?!! Make sure attics and ceilings are well insulated. Seal joints in attic air ducts and make sure they are well insulated too. To find out more, contact the Energy Trust of Oregon at 1-800-ENTRUST or go to their website at www.energytrust.org.
3. Program a warm wake up!! Don't leave the heat on all night to avoid awakening to a chilly bedroom. Use a programmable thermostat to automatically coordinate your home temperature with your daily and weekend patterns to increase comfort and monetary savings.
4. If it's not used, don't heat it!! Close an unoccupied room that is isolated from the rest of the house, such as in a corner, and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heating for that room or zone.
5. Keep heat from escaping through the chimney!! Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney. Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible. Add caulking around the fireplace hearth. If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
6. Lights Out!! Don't leave lights on to avoid coming home to a dark house on those short winter days. 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.
7. Here comes the Sun!! Let the sun help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the day time and closed at night. Be sure to keep this glass clean and use insulating curtains to reduce excessive heat loss from large windows at night.
8. No Leaking!! Seal leaks between door and frame with weather stripping. Fill leaks between window frame and wall with caulking.
9. Run a tight ship!! Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely; in just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.
10. Fresh Filters!! Change furnace filters at least once a month. When replacing your furnace or appliances be sure to buy energy efficient models. The Energy Trust of Oregon can help you choose the right furnace and appliances for your home.

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©2005 Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon