Taking the Bite Out of Winter Heating Bills
- Grab a sweater and turn the thermostat down
- Install a programmable thermostat to regulate temperatures
- Replace furnace filters regularly
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room
- Outfit your light fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs
- Rather than beat your oven, cook in the microwave
- Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry
- Open the shades and let the sun turn up the heat
- Wrap your water heater with an insulation blanket
- Insulate the first 3 feet of pipes going into and out of the water heater
- Seal leaks around windows and doors
If you have a service problem with a utility company, remember that you can file a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission.
Here are tips to help save on energy costs as we enter the winter heating season:
No cost
- Set you thermostat to 68º
- Set your water heater to 120°
- In the winter, make the most of Mother Nature’s sunlight by opening window coverings on south facing windows to warm your home
- Use cold water when washing your clothes
Low Cost
- Replace your furnace or heat pump filter regularly
- Buy an insulating blanket for your water heater
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucets
- Switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
- Weatherize your home by weather-stripping doors and sealing windows
Go Big
- Insulate your home!
- Purchase ENERGY STAR® appliances
Did you know…? Plasma TV’s consume two to three times more energy than other smaller types of TVs Some models can suck up as much electricity each year as a refrigerator and your home can cause twice the greenhouse gas emissions of a car.
Carbon Monoxide
US Department of Energy suggests…
Heating and cooling account for about 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. A wide variety of technologies are available for heating and cooling your home, and they achieve a wide range of efficiencies in converting their energy sources into useful heat or cool air for your home.
When looking for ways to save energy in your home, be sure to think about not only improving your existing heating and cooling system, but also consider the energy efficiency of the supporting equipment and the possibility of either adding supplementary sources of heating or cooling or simply replacing your system altogether…(More)
Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2008 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars — all while saving $19 billion on their utility bills.
Governor’s Energy Office Weatherization Program In partnership with local agencies, and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), offers Colorado’s low-income residents the opportunity to access free cost-effective energy efficiency services through its Weatherization Program. This program gives low-income residents the ability to save money on their energy bills by learning about and implementing energy efficient measures.
Colorado Low-Income
Energy Assistance Program
Energy Outreach Colorado is dedicated to keeping Colorado homes warm, healthy and safe by raising money for energy assistance. We assist people in emergency situations by helping pay the balances on their utility bills. We also help limited income families to be more self-sufficient by funding energy efficiency measures that lower energy costs in affordable housing across Colorado.
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