Reduce Energy and Your Budget

Despite high heating costs, you can keep your electric bills down — while maintaining a warm and cozy home. Try some of these energy–saving, cost–effective tips:

• Install a digital thermostat. Preprogram it to a lower temperature when you sleep or are away from home.

• Clean your furnace and ducts. An annual maintenance check will ensure airflow and system efficiency.

• Check your home for leaks. A poorly insulated door or window can cause cold air to seep in and warm air to escape. Caulk and weather–strip doors and windows, or use a foam sealant to close off large gaps. Close chimneys and fireplace flues, and replace single pane windows with double panes for better insulation.

• Wrap your water heater or exposed pipes in a thermal blanket or flexible foam. This can prevent freezing and costly water damage.

• Cover floors with rugs, windows with heavy drapes, and beds with thicker blankets for added insulation.

• Use your clothes dryer less. To function effectively, clothes dryers draw in air — and heat — from the room. Instead, use a clothesline to air–dry some of your laundry.