Stop heat loss W
Minimize movement of conditioned air and save money on utility bills For additional savings, set your thermostat five
E can all benefit from an occasional reminder that electric bills vary with the seasons, driven by weather and consumer use patterns.
“Weather matters,” stresses Craig Hendrickson,
Energy Efficiency Representative for Northeast Okla- homa Electric Cooperative. “It is an obvious yet under- stated fact that is easy for us to forget. When it’s cold outdoors, we want the house warm. When it’s warm outside, air conditioners make living spaces more pleas- ant.”
How much weather affects your electric bills depends on many factors, including your home’s construction materials, insulation, and air leaks. Per- sonal comfort plays a role too, as does the difference between the thermostat setting inside and temperatures outdoors. “When a house stays at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but the outdoor temperature varies from minus 20 degrees in winter to more than 100 degrees on a muggy summer’s day, demand for heating and cooling can be significant,” Hendrickson notes. “Conditioned air leaving a home essentially wastes the money spent to cool it.” Insulation’s effectiveness is often measured by its R-Value, or Resistance Value. A higher R- value indicates more effective insulation.
degrees closer (higher in summer, lower in winter) to the outdoor temperature. “The rule of thumb is that you can save about 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you set your ther- mostat back,” said Hendrickson. “Turn your thermostat down 10 degrees when you go to work and again when you go to bed—a total of 16 hours each day—and you can save as much as 14% on your heating bill.”
Keeping warm air inside is critical during cold months. To manage utility bills, make sure your home has adequate attic insulation and consider installing energy-efficient windows, hang insu- lated drapes, weather stripping around doors and windows, and keep fireplace flues closed.
It is important to note that insulation must be installed correctly in order to perform at its maximum potential. There should be no gaps in any part of the wall and insulation should be tucked behind outlet and switch boxes.
10 Northeast Connection
Contact Northeast Okla- homa Electric Cooperative and inquire about an energy audit for your home. Energy auditors can save you hundreds of dollars by uncovering energy waste and making recommendations to improve energy efficiency. In the meantime, adjust the thermostat. Keep blinds and drapes on the sunny side of your home closed in summer and open in winter. Find mysterious “hot” or “cold” spots in the house and solve them by installing gasket seals behind outlets and switch plates and weather stripping along doors and windows, replacing old windows, and upgrading insulation. When practical, adjust landscaping to provide shade for your property in summer and sunlight in winter.
Weather doesn’t have to
play havoc with electricity bills, said Hendrickson. “There are a variety of tools, appliances, and resources
available to solve all sorts of energy challenges,” he said. “Some, such as new windows or a roof, may require significant financing. But there are a lot of options that are inexpensive and simple to benefit from.”
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