Save Energy This Winter with These Fischer and Frichtel Tips

Posted by Elizabeth on January 21, 2011

Tired of worrying about your energy bills? Constantly trying to find ways to conserve energy in your home? With the recent cold snap hitting Missouri, you can take some steps to reduce the amount of energy that you’re using to lower your bill. Here are some suggestions.

Fischer and Frichtel knows how critical it can be to save even the smallest of amounts on your home heating costs. We want to share with you some conventional energy-saving tips that can make your bills more bearable!

• Use cooking and cleaning to your advantage. Use ovens and dryers during the times that you and your family are in the house. The extra warmth from cooking using the oven or produced by the dryer will give your home a toasty touch.
• Turn the thermostat to 68, the magical number. Setting your thermostat to 68 degrees will allow your system to use less energy by operating less. And as you leave the house or head upstairs for bed, don’t hesitate to turn the thermostat down an additional 5 degrees to conserve additional energy. There is no use in using the heat when no one is home or awake. You can also purchase an inexpensive programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home’s temperatures when you are sleeping our out of the home.
• Mother Nature is on your side. Take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer—free sunlight. Open your south-facing window shades or coverings to let natural light in. At the same time, make sure those that cannot receive sunlight are closed. Close all the coverings at night to retain the heat and insulate from drafts.
• What’s that in your attic? Most importantly, what isn’t in your attic? That would be the lack of insulation that’s haunting you in the wintertime. Insulating your attic is an investment, but it’s also one of the most cost-effective methods to save costs in your home. Depending on what you plan to insulate (walls, crawlspace, etc.), you may need a contractor for assistance or consultation.
• Give that furnace some TLC. Replace or clean furnace filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Now is also the time for a furnace “tune-up.” Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to 5 percent of heating costs.
•  Turn it off. Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights. Seldom used home electronics should actually be unplugged from the wall. Items like DVD players, VCRs and cordless phones use 40 percent of their energy while in the off position to power functions like clocks and remote controls.

Regardless of the home you’re in, there are other daily subtle changes that can help. Using cold water in your washing machine, running the dishwasher only when completely full, and closing the fireplace damper when not in use are effective and routine tasks that can save you money.

Enjoy this winter, stay warm and use these great tips to cut down on those energy bills!