As the weather starts to chill, and the temperature drops, our once manageable power/gas bills begin to rise. In an earlier post - I addressed a few simple and quick fixes to help stop drafts and the transfer of cold from the outside to the inside. Now is the time for the focus to shift to energy saving tips.
To begin with, we should all be practicing the art of the Thermostat Setback. This is process of "setting back" the thermostat during the times when we are not at home, or we are sleeping. For every "pro" opinion, there is a "con" opinion. I will attempt to tackle a few of the biggies here. (All the following information was borrowed from: http://www.mge.com/home/saving/thermostat.htm)
Fiction: It costs as much or more to heat a home back up after a setback.
Fact: The longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more heat you save.
Fiction: The house will warm up faster the higher the thermostat is raised.
Fact: The thermostat isn't like the gas pedal on a car. It's either calling for heat or not, so setting the thermostat too high may cause you to overshoot the desired temperature.
Fiction: The kids will kick off the covers and get cold.
Fact: Children older than about two weeks can regulate their body temperature just like adults, so they don't need any different temperature than adults. If they kick off the covers, try dressing them in two sets of pajamas with feet or using a sleeping bag.
Also, take into account some of the energy-saving benefits of utilizing the thermostat setback.
- By setting back just 3 degrees Fahrenheit, you could save $74 per heating season. Bigger setbacks save even more.
- If we all set back our thermostats by 1 degree Fahrenheit this winter, we could save enough gas for 3,100 homes.
In closing, it is important to remember that even the smallest gesture can result in a large impact. To start off by saving a little energy here and there, you are helping to save natural resources and a little money. Start small, continue small, and suddenly you will realize that the savings - both environmentally and fiscally - really do add up.
