News

  October 12, 2021

Energy Saving Tips For Your Home and Business

Fall is the perfect time for an energy tune-up to ensure you’re saving as much as possible on your electric bill.
 
 
Colder weather has an impact on your bill. Make sure you’re doing what you can this season to optimize your electric savings at home and at your small business this winter.

For your home:
  • Clean or replace furnace filters.
  • Check manufacturer's maintenance instructions to make sure your furnace and heat pump are in best working order and have your HVAC system serviced if it has been over a year.
  • Clean registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators.
  • Close the vents to the crawlspace of your home to prevent cool air from penetrating under your house.
  • Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring penetrate exterior walls, floors and ceilings.
  • Test your home for air tightness.
  • Set your thermostat as low as comfortable in the winter.  For every degree you can lower your thermostat, you will save around 3% on your heating costs.
  • Install foam gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls.
  • If you use a fireplace, installing tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system will blow warmed air back into the room. Close the damper when not in use. As much as 14% of your warm air escapes out a chimney.
  • Use ventilating fans wisely. Fans pull warmed or cooled air out of the house. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.
For your business:
  • Use a surge protector for electronics in offices.
  • Power down electronics at the end of the workday.
  • Turn off lights when they’re not in use or install occupancy sensors.
  • Use LED light bulbs and natural light to light your business.
  • Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat with an energy saving mode or adjustment  your thermostat for the season. In the winter, set thermostats between 65 and 68 degrees during business hours and between 60 and 65 degrees during non-business hours.
  • Use fans during occupied hours to maintain a comfortable temperature.
  • Locate any leaks in your business to prevent costly heating and cooling loss, you can easily plug leaks with weather stripping and caulking.
  • Tune up your HVAC system by professionally servicing it every year to avoid large, expensive replacements and regularly replace filters.
  • Track your business’ usage using SmartHub.
  • Conduct an energy audit or call one of our energy efficiency advisors to help you pinpoint areas you can better save energy.
  • Get employees engaged in energy efficiency practices.
For renters:
  • Set thermostats at 68 or below if possible. (every degree you can lower your thermostat will save around 3% on your heating costs)
  • Use rolled up towels or draft stoppers at the base of exterior doors to prevent air infiltration and heat loss.
  • Remove window air conditioners before winter.
  • Run a humidifier. This will help heat remain in the home and increase comfort.
  • Caulk any holes into the home as well as around the inside and outside of doors and windows to reduce air infiltration.
  • Install gaskets behind wall switches and outlets.
  • Keep windows and doors closed.
  • Cover or close crawl space vents.
  • Only use space heaters when needed.
  • Close fireplace and wood stove dampers when not in use (be sure all embers are out).
  • Open blinds during the day. The sun will help heat up the home.  Close them at night to help keep heat in.
  • Put plastic over the windows as this will help keep heat in.
  • Use rugs on bare floors to retain heat.
  • During the holiday season decorate without lights or use LED Christmas lights.
We also have rebates for your home, and for your business that could save you even MORE money this winter season!

For more energy saving tips you could use all year, visit BentonPUD.org/EnergySavings. You can also contact one of our Energy Efficiency Advisors at (509) 582-1234 if you need information about a high bill or need help with an at-home energy tune up!