Energy/Money Saving Tips for Winter's Cold Days

The average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total, according to a recent news release from the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit public policy group based in Washington, D.C.

Gas and electric costs are up from last year, the group says. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration shows that homes heated with natural gas will pay about $30 more compared to last winter, while those heating with electricity will pay about $80 more.

In Michigan, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) had this projection for the 2008/2009 winter. This winter, heating bills will be much higher in Michigan and across the country. Since the National Weather Service is expecting this coming winter to be warmer than normal, and if one assumes this will mean temperatures comparable to last winter, then consumption would also be similar to last year.

For the 2008-2009 winter heating season based on the average price of natural gas, residential customers in Michigan can expect their winter bills over the November to March period to be around $922, based on October 2008 prices. This represents a 21 percent increase in residential prices. The average residential price in Michigan for home heating oil on September 22, 2008 was $3.60 per gallon, up 13 percent from last year's average price. Propane has also increased slightly. The average residential propane price on September 22, 2008 was $2.45 per gallon, up 3 percent from last year's average


To help consumers cut costs, the Alliance to Save Energy is sharing these tips:

- Turn down the thermostat. In America, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by up to 5 percent–between $35 and $70, depending on the fuel used to heat the home.

- Plug leaks. Gaps between windows and doors may be small, but they can collectively add up to big energy losses. Plugging these leaks with caulk or other materials is the first action home owners should take to combat high heating fuel costs. By sealing those leaks and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces, American households can reduce home heating costs by up to $180-$340 per year, depending on the fuel used.

- Heat people and pets, not empty space. About 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money.

- Use a programmable thermostat. It costs about $100, but if used properly, it can save American households up to 10 percent on their home heating bills–up to $90-$170 a year.

- Set the hot water heater at 130 degrees. Use cold water when washing clothes to save more energy and reduce bills for water heating.

- Replace the four most used bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. American households can save about $135 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

- Look for the label. When choosing a new heating and cooling system, windows, or appliances, consumers should purchase models with the ENERGY STAR label.

- Save gas on the road. Vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine (4 percent), using the recommended grade of motor oil (1-2 percent), keeping tires properly inflated (up to 3 percent), curbing aggressive driving such as speeding and rapid acceleration and braking (10 percent on average, but possibly as much as 33 percent), and removing unnecessary weight from the trunk (2 percent per 100 pounds). Even better, carpool, take public transportation, ride a bike or walk to really rack up the savings.

While many of these suggestions are “Well, Duh” kind of obvious, they probably merit revisiting from time to time. One could add other obvious things, like replacing your old drafty windows with modern thermal windows or replacing an old, low efficiency furnace with a new, high-efficiency model and adding insulation to your attic or walls; but that’s a job for Obvious Man, who in the summer months spends his time making sure that lawnmowers have a warning on them that one should not put one's hand under the mower while it is running.