Fall energy-saving tips
There’s a chill in the air! Use these tips to stay cozy while lowering your energy usage and costs during cooler weather.
Simple ways to save energy this fall
For most people, their home’s heating system has the biggest impact on their energy bill. As you prepare to fire up your heater this year, remember that reducing the amount of time it runs is key to saving energy and keeping your bill in check. Here are some simple tips to help.
Schedule a furnace tune-up
Adjust your thermostat
Take advantage of sweater weather
Adjust your ceiling fans
Use that free solar heat
Unblock air vents
Prep your home to be more energy efficient
No matter the season, you’ll use less energy if your home and HVAC are working efficiently. A few easy maintenance steps can go a long way toward lowering your energy usage this fall.
- Check your air filter. A clogged, dusty filter makes your heating system work harder to keep you warm. Replace it regularly to boost your home’s energy efficiency.
- Upgrade to a smart thermostat. It can automatically set the temperature lower when you’re away or don’t need to use as much heat, netting you up to 8% savings on heating and cooling costs per year. If you’re an NRG customer with a Nest thermostat, you can control it from anywhere with the My NRG app.
- Patch up leaky air ducts. If you have exposed ductwork in your basement or attic, turn on your heater and feel for leaks. You can easily patch them with aluminum tape.
- Seal up drafty doors and windows. Check out the weather-stripping around your home. If you feel cold air, it’s time to replace it.
- Add or replace insulation in the attic. Efficient insulation will have a minimum total “R-value,” which varies by region. Use this Energy Department map to check the R-value target for your area.
Managing fall energy costs
If your energy costs start to climb during fall, there could be several different reasons, including increased heater usage – especially considering that heating and cooling costs account for about 42% of your energy bill! Here are some other factors that can lead to higher energy bills this time of year.
- Longer billing cycles. Billing cycles start and end when your local utility reads your meter, which is typically every 28 to 30 days. During the holidays, an additional 1 to 3 days may pass before your meter is read, creating longer billing cycles. Those extra days mean more usage is recorded for that period.
- Electric vs. natural gas heating. Many people with gas-powered furnaces enjoy lower electricity bills in the winter. But if you have an electric furnace, the colder season can be tough on your wallet. Electric furnaces are generally more expensive to operate than gas furnaces because electric furnaces produce less heat in the same amount of time. Plus, electricity typically costs more than natural gas.
- Adjusting your thermostat. Cranking your thermostat up 10 degrees on a chilly evening won’t make your house warm up any faster. It just makes the heater run longer to reach this higher temperature, using more energy and wearing your heater out faster.
