Make home efficient by following simple steps
More energy-efficient homes may result in lower fuel bills, offsetting expenses to make the homes more efficient.
Kansas Corporation Commission recommends these steps to reduce fuel consumption:
— Reduce thermostat setting. Reducing the setting to 68 degrees can substantially lower heating costs. Putting on extra layers of clothing will keep family members comfortable while saving on heating bills.
— Adjust thermostat. Setting back the thermostat 10 degrees at night or when the house will be unoccupied can save up to 15 percent on heating costs. The furnace will have to run more to reheat the house, but the energy saved while the home is cooler more than offsets the extra run time to reheat the home.
— Install a programmable thermostat. This will reduce the home's temperature at night and during the day, and still have the home warm when the family wakes up or comes home. Some programmable thermostats cost less than $50 and can be installed by homeowners.
— Change furnace filters monthly. Clogged furnace filters lower the heater's efficiency by preventing proper airflow through the furnace. Low-cost filters are available at hardware stores. Check filters monthly to see if they need changing.
— "Tune up" furnace annually. Having the furnace cleaned and tuned annually helps the heating system operate safely and efficiently. Tuning may involve resetting the fuel-air mixture for proper combustion, an cleaning of the blower and burners to assure maximum air flower and complete combustion. New furnaces don't need to be cleaned and tuned for the first five years.
— Let the sun shine in. Open drapes on the south side of the home during winter days and close them at night. Sun angles are low in the winter, allowing substantial solar heating through all south windows. Trim vegetation that shades south windows.
— Replace weather stripping. Air leaks around faulty weather stripping on doors and windows, not only making the home drafty but also increasing heating costs. Check for drafts, and repair or replace worn stripping.
— Close storm windows and doors. Storm windows installed over primary windows are almost as good as double-paned windows for reducing heating loss, but they only work if kept closed. Be sure all storm windows are properly closed when cold weather arrives.
— Operate vents minimally. Bath and kitchen vents exhaust moisture, along with heated air, to the outside. If the home is dry during the winter, a person may not need to operate the vents at all. If condensation is on windows, operate the vents as needed to remove cooking and bathing moisture.
— Lower thermostat on the water heater. Keep water temperatures at about 120 degrees. Check the water temperature by carefully placing the back of a hand under a steady stream of hot water. If it is too warm to keep the hand there, the water is too hot.
— Install a water heater blanket. Older water heaters may not have adequate insulation. Installing an insulating water heater jacket can save energy costs. Be sure to follow the manufacturers' recommendation and don't cover the thermostat.
— Reduce hot water use. Reducing hot water use reduces the cost of heating water. Low-flow shower heads save water and energy. Showers generally use less water than baths. Using the cold water setting on the washing machine and repairing leaky faucets will save on water an water-heating costs.
