So much for the earlier forecast of lower heating costs this winter. To keep your expenses down this winter, try these no-, low-, and moderate-cost steps:
1. While you can't predict future energy cost increases, consider locking in your price for natural gas or heating oil.
2. Check which federal tax incentives could lower your up-front costs or shorten payback times for energy-efficient or renewable-energy products, including insulation, pellet stoves, water heaters, and furnaces. And learn more about the $300 million cash for clunkers for appliances rebate program.
3. Find out whether if your local utility will schedule a free energy audit. If it doesn't, follow our advice so you hire a reputable firm. An audit will run $300 to $800.
4. Be sure one of these easy-to-correct problems isn't robbing your heating system of peak efficiency.
5. With zone heating, space heaters can save you money. (The same is true for electric blankets.) Be sure to use these appliances safely. Also check out our free buyer's guide to space heaters and this post about EdenPure space heaters.
6. Take advantage of the federal government's pending cash for caulkers program. Learn how to choose the right caulk and apply it properly.
7. Keep heated air inside your home and conserve energy.
8. Insulate your attic and minimize the stack effect.
9. Buy an effective programmable thermostat and install it yourself, a move that can cut up to 20 percent off your heating bills. The Lux Smart Temp Touch Screen TX9000TS in our thermostat ratings (available to subscribers) was especially easy to operate and maintained steady temperatures. But some tested thermostats were so difficult to use that you might end up using more energy.
10. Water heating can account for up to 25 percent of your energy use, so find out whether a tankless water heater or a solar water heater can save you money.
Essential information: You'll find many more ways to cut heating costs in our Energy Saving & Green Living guide and the discussions on our heating, cooling, and air forum.
Is there such a thing as gas leaks in your double pane windows. If so how can they be refilled?
Thanks
Thanks for a great set of resources. Another increasingly affordable energy-saving retrofit is to put solar PV on your roof. In many areas of the country, installers and sometimes cities are offering lease financing which means you pay zero (or very little) money down and pay off the system monthly (usually paying no more than what your electric bill would have been). Check out, for example, the Sungevity Solar Lease and SunRunSolar. If you live in New Jersey, check out how you can actually turn a hefty profit off your rooftop panels--http://solarpowerrocks.com/new-jersey/im-moving-to-new-jersey-just-to-buy-homes-and-put-solar-on-them-seriously/. Suddenly, solar's a bargain!
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