With the fall season in full swing and days and nights turning cooler, Beth Dupell is looking for simple steps she can take to prevent heat loss at her home in Stratham, N.H., and lower her heating bill.
She’s starting with the air conditioner installed in one of her windows.
“We have two window air conditioners and I noticed last night that one is still in and it needs to come out – one for weather, but two because of all the stink bugs that are all coming in,” said Dupell, a customer of Unitil – a provider of electricity and natural gas to customers in New England.
As a homeowner, Dupell has found that a simple step like removing an air conditioner to prevent cold air from leaking in around the unit can make a difference during the fall and winter season.
“It’s important for homeowners to realize that there are some very easy, cost-effective ways to keep their homes warm during the colder months while reducing their energy usage. From checking for drafts around your home to installing smart thermostats, this is a good time to prepare and potentially reduce energy bills as we enter the home heating season,” Unitil External Affairs Manager Amanda Vicinanzo said.
In her effort to save energy, Dupell has installed a smart thermostat, which can be programmed to adjust temperature at any hour to help control heating more effectively. By using a smartphone app, the temperature can be monitored and adjusted remotely.
“I have them set pretty low all the time. I only adjust it when I’m adjusting it up. It’s very convenient and very easy,” she said.
Energy Star® estimates that smart thermostats can save up to 8% on an energy bill, but at Steppin’ Out Dance Academy in Kingston, N.H., co-owner Dan Mills said the studio’s energy usage has dropped at least 25% since smart thermostats were installed.
“If you forget it over the weekend and you had your heat set at 75, it’s not just blasting all weekend. You can jump on your phone and just drop it down. It works out great,” said Mills, also a Unitil customer.
The dance studio also installed a high efficiency furnace to help reduce energy consumption and replaced all of its indoor panel lights and outdoor lighting with more energy efficient LED lights.
“Those are all set on a timer, which is huge. Our electric bill with the new lighting has probably dropped in half,” Mills said.
The studio received an energy efficiency incentive of approximately $6,000 to offset the cost of the upgrade for LED lighting and controls. Unitil was able to offer the incentive through NHSaves® – a collaboration of New Hampshire’s electric and natural gas utilities working together to provide customers with information, incentives, and support designed to save energy, reduce costs, and protect the environment statewide.
Dupell made the switch to all LED lights in her house as well, which she said has led to significant savings, but she also plans to remove the screens from the windows in her home to maximize sunlight and passive solar heat.
“We take down the screens on our windows because supposedly that diffuses light, so if you take the screens off you might be allowing more sunlight into your house. We only leave up the screen where the cat sits in the window on a nice day,” she said.
With the change in seasons, Unitil recommends customers take a proactive approach by following these energy saving tips:
Improve your home’s insulation by finding and sealing air leaks around windows and door frames with caulk and installing weather-stripping on doors.
Check for drafts around recessed lighting, attic entrances, air ducts and even outlets and switches.
Be sure to check your furnace filter once a month and replace if needed, especially during the colder months when it’s used more regularly. Filters on heat pumps should also be checked monthly. If you have a boiler, make sure you have it cleaned and serviced annually.
Remove window air conditioners during the fall and winter months.
Leave curtains and shades open on south facing windows to take advantage of the sun’s warmth can make a big difference, just remember to close them at night to prevent the heat from escaping.
Switch to ENERGY STAR® certified light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. For those planning to display string lights as part of their autumn and Halloween decor, choose ENERGY STAR certified LED lights.
Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees can make a big difference. For instance, set it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for heating when you’re home and awake, but turn the thermostat back several degrees each time you leave the house for two or more hours, and again when you go to sleep at night.
Consider installing a smart thermostat, which can be programmed to adjust the temperature throughout the day and night. According to Energy Star, a smart thermostat can save up to 8 percent on your energy bill.
For more information on ways to save during the colder months, visit unitil.com/ways-to-save.
