On a Winter's Day

With the price of oil approaching $100 a barrel, plenty of people are going to be looking for ways to save money at the gas pump. But residents of the Northeast, where heating oil is commonly used to warm homes in winter, may see their energy bills soar too. No matter where you live, you can save money and energy this winter by following a few simple steps:

Run a tight ship. Minimize the energy needed to heat your home by making sure your windows and doors are well-sealed with caulking and weather-stripping. This easy and inexpensive fix can save as much as 10 percent of winter heating costs.

Seal your ducts. Homes with forced-air heating systems can lose up to 40 percent of their heat if duct joints are poorly sealed. You probably want to get a qualified contractor to do this one, but some states will offer a tax credit to help pay for the work.

Watch your windows. Since most heat loss occurs through the windows, installing thick curtains and drapes can help keep you toasty. Open them during the day to allow warming sunlight to enter, then close them at night to keep the heat inside. Double-paned windows cost more but are worth looking into too.

Temper the temperature. Turning your thermostat down just 5 degrees can cut energy bills (and pollution) by 10 percent, so keep it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, and 60 degrees or less while you sleep. Chilly? Put on a sweater or add an extra blanket to your bed.

Fan the heat around. Running your ceiling fan clockwise, at a slow speed, recirculates warmer air that accumulates at the ceiling, reducing energy consumption by up to 10 percent.

Put on a greener log. Fireplaces aren't the most efficient--or cleanest--way to heat a home, but they can be awfully cozy. Look for artificial logs made of wood only, avoiding those that contain paraffin, a petroleum-based by-product with dubious emissions quality. (Duraflame has phased all petroleum-based waxes out of its logs). Some cool alternatives include fireplace logs made of recycled cardboard boxes, recycled-paper briquettes, and logs made of used coffee grounds, which burn hotter and longer than wood while producing fewer emissions and less soot.

Heating water is another big energy-hog year-round. A simple insulating blanket to improve the efficiency of your water heater costs only about $20 and is readily available at most hardware stores. Another way to save energy is to wash your laundry in cold water whenever possible. Since each load uses about 40 gallons of water, this small step can make a big difference: One household can eliminate more than a thousand pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in a year just by washing in cold.

Comments

[karen]

I have heard mixed reviews on whether or not to use a water heater blanket. Since I have gas water heaters, some plumbers do not advise using a blanket....any other comments?

[Margie Campaigne]

Yes, BEFORE buying a water heater insulation blanket, check with the manufacturer or contractor who installed it. Newer gas-fired water heaters often should NOT have extra insulation around them.

[Margie Campaigne]

The following is offered for inspiration!

ACTUAL RESULTS AFTER IMPLEMENTING ENERGY STAR IMPROVEMENTS

After comparing the energy audit results and recommendations of three different contractors in 2006, I chose one of the companies to complete the majority of work that needed to be done to make my home more energy efficient. (Other contractors completed smaller jobs.) The main contractor initiated the paperwork necessary for me to receive not only a $6,000 Energy Star grant, but also a 4% low interest loan through NYSERDA. Here is a list of the work done:

1. Replaced 1950’s era gas furnace with new high efficiency model
2. Replaced a nearly 20 year old refrigerator with an Energy Star model
3. Replaced a 1970’s era (avocado anyone?) washer with Energy Star model
4. Replaced (4) ten+ year old low-quality vinyl windows with Energy Star windows (remainder of windows already replaced with triple-pane vinyl windows)
5. Replaced (6) single pane basement & garage windows with glass block windows
6. Added Air Krete ® http://www.airkrete.com/ insulation in all exterior walls
7. Added foam insulation to all rim joists, and under house wing over garage
8. Replaced rear and side exterior doors (front door already replaced)
9. Finished installation of Hunter Cool-Vent TM panels on roof over vaulted ceilings http://www.hpanels.com/pages/cool-vent_articles.html

I now have a year’s worth of data on the resulting energy savings, from my local utility’s website showing my homes energy use over the past two years.

· My gas usage in therms decreased by 25%
· My electricity use in kWh decreased by 44%

Not too shabby, and I still have things to tweak.

[steve limbach]

I wonder about the advice to seal ducts. Since all the heat is still within the house is seems strange that there would be a huge savings ! I can see that the distribution to the rooms you want heated would be better, but the overall heating of the structure should not be affected unless there is an unheated crawlspace or other area that the ducts run through ! Please explain the 40 % savings, i just don't get it.
Thanks,

[hank kulesza]

I turn my gas water heater to the low position & if I want to take a shower I turn it up 15 mins beforehand. Being single helps. In the summer it is warm enough to take a shower as is. Wash dishes in cold or lukewarm water.

[SatanicMechanic]

There are a number of businesses that offer Biodiesel heating, too, by the way.

[Nick]

If I'm cold, I put on extra layers of clothes before I turn up the heater.

[Green Life Host]

For more information about heat loss through improperly sealed ducts, check out these websites:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_ducts

and

http://oikos.com/esb/28/duct_losses.html

[Rhonda]

I'm confused...always thought in winter you turn your ceiling fans "counter-clockwise" to circulate the heat that rises back into the room. Please advise which is right - clockwise or counterclockwise?

[Alan]

Sealing air-leaks in your home is a huge way to save energy.

All homes have areas where heat leaks out.. such as through cracks in window sills, and underneath doors. Find sealing caulks and weather stripping at your local hardware store or online at http://www.iwantcleanair.com

[Frank]

We have a wood stove insert with a catalyst and blower. The catalyst burns the gases from the wood more completely hence less wood and emissions. I burn wood from logging jobs that is not utilized by the loggers, mainly tops. Any comments?

[sharon Pinsey]

Layering your clothing to accommodate the dipping temps and especially being concerned with keeping your feet, ears and hands dry and warm, solar heating units- even in winter, there are many days with enough sun to give you at least partial relief from oil/electrical heating, having a heated waterbed really saves energy- thermostat in place, heating only for a few hours of the day and making sure the bed is really covered so the heat doesn't dissipate, delaying heating the bed by wearing additional layers to sleep and even lying on a fleece blanket (over the sheets, fleece and quilts on sofa/armchair while watching tv/reading in the evening, hot drinks take the chill off, etc.

[Bev]

I, too, agree with those who say that covering yourself with a blanket, if you are cold, is the answer to keeping warm instead of turning up the heat. Because I live in southern Arizona, our winters here are tolerable. I've really forgotten what weather is like in the cold northern climes!

[Jim Hannan]

Regarding window insulation, also consider using insulated window shutters on the exterior that you can close at night. You can make a shutter with 2 inches of rigid foam that has an R-value of about 9. This is better than the interior coverings provide.

[Elaine]

Do you have any recommendations or information on the effectiveness of using the Eden PURE Quartz Infrared Portable Heater? It is marketed by Biotech Research and claims that it can lower your heating bill by up to 50%.
Thank you

[ernie]

If we all except the inevitable doom of the species (like all species heretofor), what difference does it make if it happens now, a thousand years from now or 10000 years from now. Ditto for the planet. Use whatever resources the free market, your conscience and your wallet allow, and let the chips fall as they inevitably will anyway. ;)

[Kate]

In theory, it's helpful to know that an overhead fan can push air downwards. In practice, the resulting breeze FEELS cold a la "wind chill factor" (no matter which direction it was turning). Last winter family members complained, asking us to turn up the heat(which we keep on 67).We finally turned off the overhead fan. If you really believe should work, perhaps run the fan when no one is in the room. Our ceilings are only 7 feet, so maybe there is little savings here. However, I've found a different effective use of small fans; set small wood-stove fans on or over any hidden radiators, to push the warm air out from behind the furniture blocking it. (Again, don't sit or stand in the breeze.)

[Matthew Bolster]

Owners of older houses should think twice about replacing windows. Analyze the payback period (it may be much longer than you think), and think about all the material that you will send to the landfill. Original windows in houses 75+ years old are made of irreplaceable old-growth wood and valuable wavy glass. What a waste to throw them away. Plus, most new windows are difficult or impossible to repair if they break, so guess what--you have to buy another new window. Wood or steel windows can be repaired by do-it-yourselfers. And unlike wood or steel windows, vinyl windows can't be painted if your tastes change. Finally, the vast majority of replacement windows just don't look right on an old house. The fake muntins between the glass panes look like adhesive tape. In most cases, you will be much better off tuning up your existing windows with integral weatherstripping (look for articles on the This Old House and Old House Journal websites), and investing in quality storm windows. The replacement window industry is rife with poor products and huge profit margins--that's why so many companies are out there advertising heavily--so think twice, and then think again.

[Larry Miller]

I'm printin gout the "Winter's Day" article.

Hoever, b/cthe text runs only in the center, a lot of sidebar material, not needed in a printout, will print out, and a lot of extra pages used.

Other web sites have a Print link that--somehow--prints the key text in a wider column, thus using space efficiently.

Please consider. Thanks.

[Jon Lafleur]

My home has only four modest-sized rooms and, therefore, I can heat it to 68 degrees night and day on 600 gallons a year. By leaving the thermostat constant, not only is the air warm but the furniture, particularly the bed, is also comfortable.

[jeanne]

Those heaters are no good. We tried one. The electric meter was spinning and there was very little heat coming from the heater. We sent it back.

[Rick Lanza]

I have a warehouse building in NY. I would like to know how low can I turn the heat down to at night. Is it better to keep the building at 40F at night and reheat the building an hour before we return in the morning or to keep the heat at 60F through out the night? Would it take more oil to heat a cold building back up than it takes to keep the building 10-20F less than the normal temp?

[Carl Ekholm]

I'm also interested in any advice regarding leaving the thermostat at a constant setting rather than turning it down at night and up in the morning. It makes sense to me but I'm wondering if there have been any studies done that prove it.

[andrew]

In regard to water heater blankets. Better check with the manufacturer before putting one on. As a 20 year plumber I know that most warranties are voided if you use these blankets because it doesn't allow for air circulation thru the jacket. When cold water enters the tank, condensation forms just like it does on a glass when you pour yourself a cold drink. The tank then rusts from the outside in. Nost new heaters are already about 1-3 inches thicker in diameter because of the extra foam insulation they contain. Something to think about.

[Mark]

A strategy I use for feeling warmer when the thermostat is lowered, or to warm the bed, is to heat a rice-filled pillow in the microwave (usually about two minutes on high). There's a brand called "Bed Buddy" by Lava, but mine are ones made by a local craft person using upholstery grade material. they have a couple of pounds of rice in them. They last two or three years before they begin to break down.