Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA – The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative's customer-owners have used more electricity and natural gas so far this winter than last year, according to NOVEC records.
"This past December has been one of the coldest in the last 10 years," reports Gil Jaramillo, manager, Business Development and Energy Services. "The cold winter weather has kept heating systems running overtime in homes and businesses. New energy-efficient appliances, windows and doors reduce heating bills, but we want to give customers some inexpensive, quick and easy ways to reduce their energy bills and still stay comfortably warm."
Quick and Easy Energy-Saving Tips for winter:
- Almost half of household energy in winter goes to heating. Reduce bills by setting the thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Wear sweaters and use extra blankets.
- Replace heating system filters every month or so. A dirty filter restricts air flow, and it reduces efficiency and comfort.
- A water heater uses a lot of home energy in winter. Lower the thermostat to 120 degrees. (Keep it at 140 degrees if your dishwasher does not have a temperature booster feature.)
- Open drapes, blinds, and shades on south- and west-facing windows during the day to let in the sun. Close treatments at night to trap passive solar heat indoors.
- An open fireplace draws heated indoor air up the flue. When the fireplace is not in use, close the damper and glass doors.
- Insert foam rubber insulation pads under wall outlet and switch covers and insert child-protection plug covers into outlets to stop drafts.
- Keep doors of an attached garage closed as much as possible to prevent cold air from infiltrating the house.
- Apply weather-stripping around drafty windows. For the adhesive to work, outdoor temperatures must be 40 degrees or warmer. As an extra wind barrier, cover windows with specially designed window plastic.
- Adhere weather-stripping around drafty exterior doors and attach insulating door sweeps for thresholds. For a temporary solution, push towels against doors to block cold air.
- Remove window air conditioners and close the storm and regular windows.
Hardware and home center stores sell the insulating materials and kits mentioned.
For more energy saving tips, visit www.novec.com/useitwisely12. NOVEC's energy calculators help customers see approximately how much energy they will save by using energy wisely.
