Cut Your Energy Costs While Staying Warm
Four tips for a more energy-efficient winter
Winter can land a heavy blow to most budgets. If fact, winter can blow most budgets to smithereens. The additional cost of all the holidays and the requisite presents and travel can leave even the thriftiest customer in the red (and not the festive kind). Another expense that tends to tax our budgets during the winter months is our energy bill. As the temperatures go down, your bill tends to go up. Winter comes strong in New England. You’re going to want to keep your home as comfortable as possible without paying an arm and a leg. Whether you’re one of our heating oil or propane customers, there are ways to stay warm and cut your energy costs this winter. Keep reading to find out how.
Tips for energy bill cost-cutting
When you take steps to make your home more energy-efficient, you’ll be able to enjoy noticeable savings during the winter months (and beyond). Your family will still be comfortable. And you won’t have a sticker shock when you see your bill each month.
- Use a programmable thermostat: You’ll have complete control over your home’s temperature and your family’s comfort—right at your fingertips. You can even set your thermostat to warm your home as you travel back from vacation so it’s nice and cozy when you arrive. Programmable thermostats use advanced technology, but they’re easy to operate. If you make some small adjustments, you could see significant savings. For example, if you set your thermostat to lower the temperature in your southeastern Massachusetts home by roughly 6 degrees during the day (when your family is at work or school) and during the hours everyone is asleep, that could save you up to 10% on your heating bills.
- Seal any drafts in your home: A drafty house can waste as much as 20% of its warm air—losing it through small gaps around windows and doors, the chimney, ductwork, etc. Caulk your windows and add door sweeps and weather stripping to help keep the warm air you’re paying to heat inside. Sealing drafts will also reap energy-saving (and bill lowering) benefits during the summer months because your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your home nice and cool.
- Insulate your home: In addition to sealing off any drafts in your home, adding insulation will help make your home more energy-efficient. Not sure where to start? Since heat rises and most attics aren’t insulated, that’s a good place to begin.
- Take advantage of the sun: There is a free source of energy that rises every morning. Open your curtains during the day to let in as much sunlight (and heat) as possible. Then close your curtains at night to help your home hold onto that heat.
You can count on W.H. Riley & Son to help keep you safe and comfortable in your home all winter long. We provide our southeastern Massachusetts customers with competitive prices, stellar customer service, and an exemplary safety record. Click here to see if we service your neighborhood.
Contact us today to learn more or to become a customer and experience the benefits of having a full-service propane and heating oil provider.