NEW YORK (Oct. 18) - With prices for some types of heating fuel falling, many families can expect to pay less this winter to keep their houses warm - but that shouldn't stop them from adopting energy-saving strategies to lower bills even further.
Homeowners who heat with natural gas, the most widely used fuel, face heating costs that average $826 this winter, down from $945 last year, according to the government's Energy Information Administration. Propane prices also are expected to be down, though heating oil could rise a bit, the EIA is forecasting.
Kateri Callahan, president of the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C., noted that even with some prices easing, energy costs one-third more than it did just two years ago. And, she pointed out, the winter could be colder than forecast.
"Energy efficiency is an insurance policy against volatile energy prices and unpredictable weather," Callahan said.
Callahan points out that there are many things families can do to improve fuel efficiency without spending a lot of money.
Simply cleaning or changing the filter on a furnace can help it function better. Caulking and weather-stripping windows and doors can cut a home heating bill by as much as 10 percent, and increasing insulation in attics, crawl spaces and the basement can cut an additional 10 percent, Callahan said.
Another way to reduce heat loss is to make sure fireplace dampers and air conditioner vents are closed during the winter.
Storm windows also can reduce the amount of warm air that escapes from a home. And storm windows and doors purchased this year and next are eligible for a special credit at tax time, Callahan said.
"Most people don't even think about it, but just closing curtains at night to keep heat in and opening them during the day to let the sun in can reduce energy consumption," she said.
Consumer Reports, the publishing arm of the nonprofit Consumers Union testing and information organization in Yonkers, N.Y., has just published the "Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs," designed to help do-it-yourselfers implement better home heating and cooling strategies.
David Schiff, Consumer Reports' book editor, said the guide helps customers get the most value for their money whether they're looking at small changes, like using cold water to launder clothes, or big ones, like buying a new central heating and cooling unit.
He said that before considering major purchases like a new furnace or windows, consumers first should look at what they can do to plug air leaks with low-cost products such as caulking and weather-stripping.
"Think of your house as being like a thermos," he said. "You want to keep the air that you spent your hard-earned dollars to heat or cool bottled up inside."
Schiff and other experts also recommend consumers get programmable thermostats. These devices let people select times for their furnaces to turn on and off; properly programmed, they can lower the heat at night when a family is sleeping and turn it up just before they wake in the morning.
Denise A. Durrett, spokeswoman for the government's Energy Star program, said the advantage of a programmable thermostat is "you can set it and forget it."
"People can save as much as $150 a year in energy costs with proper use - and I do stress that it has to be proper use," Durrett said. "If family members go in and override the settings ... you're not going to get those savings."
Even people with manual thermostats can get some fuel saving if they remember to lower the setting five to eight degrees at night or when they're leaving the house and don't mind if it cools some.
Durrett also recommended families look for the Energy Star rating when they purchase new appliances. Products must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to qualify for Energy Star ratings.
Ratings now are available on more than 50 types of home products, she said.
Durrett called energy conservation "a win-win situation" for most families because "you'll save on energy bills, and you'll get the added bonus of doing a good thing for the environment."
More on AOL:Tom Kraeutler's Home Improvement Tips & TricksGreen Resolutions for Your HomeOn the Net:www.ase.org/consumerswww.consumerreports.org/energywww.energystar.govCopyright 2006 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
10/18/06 15:13 EDT
Increasing the insulation in your home can cut 10 percent from energy bills.
