Cold weather conservation: save energy at home while maintaining comfort

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Temperatures have begun dropping in recent weeks, sending many New Englanders to their attics and basements to liberate sweaters, space heaters and scrapers for car windows. Despite the cold weather, however, consumers need not scrimp on comfort to save energy and significantly lower their heating bills, according to The U.S. Department of Energy's Web site, www.energy.gov.

By utilizing the tips listed below, the members of the Hanscom community can enjoy the warmth of their homes while conserving both energy and cash.

-During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter the home, and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

-Set the thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.

-By resetting a programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours per day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) heating bills can be reduced by up to 10 percent.

-Weatherize by caulking and weather-stripping any doors and windows that leak air.

-Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.

-Replace furnace filters regularly.

-Check the insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for the area.

For more information visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Web site.