Heating & Cooling
Make Your Energy Bills Look as Good as Your Home
By NUI
Feb 3, 2005, 13:03

(NUI) - Even the nicest homes can be uncomfortable if you're trying to keep energy costs low during the cold winter months.

With these improvements, however, you can increase your home's efficiency.

* Add padding. Make sure your home is properly insulated to help trap heat indoors; it's one of the most convenient and cost-efficient ways to reduce energy usage. You will need a contractor to add insulation to exterior walls, but you can easily add attic insulation yourself.

* Save with your thermostat. Lower your winter heating bill by setting your thermostat as low as comfortably possible.

Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. The Tempstar line of programmable thermostats, for example, work at a more cost-efficient temperature while you're asleep or away from home and raise the temperature to warm your home just before you wake up or return.

* Consider an upgrade to your heating system. In the long run, a new and more energy-

efficient heating system can pay for itself with energy savings.

The Tempstar SmartComfort VS 90 operates at a 90 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which means it uses 90 cents of every dollar you spend to heat your home. Less efficient furnaces might only use 60 cents to 80 cents of every dollar to heat your home. It also has a variable-speed blower motor, which uses up to 50 percent less electricity than furnaces equipped with conventional blower motors.

* Stop the leaks. Warm air escaping through leaks in your home results in a significant amount of wasted money and energy. Caulk, seal and weather-strip all seams and cracks. If you have a fireplace, keep the damper closed to keep your heated air from flying up the chimney.

* Cut water heating costs. Use less hot water, insulate the water heater and lower its temperature setting. Also keep in mind that a leaking faucet can waste gallons of water in a short time, so be sure to repair leaks promptly.

* Let the sun warm the home. Open curtains and blinds on the south side of the house during the day.

For more ideas on money- and energy-saving improvements, contact your local Tempstar contractor. To find the contractor nearest you, visit www.tempstar.com and click on "Dealer Locator."