New York Consumers Can 'Insulate' Themselves Against Higher Winter Energy Bills with Energy Efficiency, Smart Energy Practices

12/15/2003

From: Ryan Moore of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 518-862-1090 ext. 3267
Ronnie Kweller of the Alliance to Save Energy, 202-530-2203 or rkweller@ase.org

ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 15 -- With energy efficiency and smart energy practices, New York state residents can "insulate" themselves against higher winter energy bills.

"Making your home more energy-efficient increases home comfort while decreasing both energy bills and pollution," said Peter R. Smith, acting president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). "Residential customers in New York State spend approximately $1,700 per year on energy for their homes. Energy efficiency improvements and smart energy practices can mean more money in your pocket."

NYSERDA offers home energy tips to reduce winter energy bills:

-- Have a Home Performance With ENERGY STAR(r) Comprehensive Home Assessment to identify areas in the home needing efficiency improvements.

-- Heating accounts for more than a third of New York State residents' winter energy bills. Make sure your furnace receives a professional "tune-up" each year, and clean or replace air filters once a month to help your unit run more efficiently.

-- Take the guesswork out of energy efficiency improvements by exploring NYSERDA's consumer website http://www.GetEnergySmart.org.

-- Look for the ENERGY STAR(r) label - the symbol of energy efficiency - when purchasing new heating and cooling systems, major appliances, electronics, lighting, insulation, and windows. Households that replace existing equipment with ENERGY STAR(r) products can cut annual energy bills by up to 30 percent. Find nearby retailers that sell ENERGY STAR(r) products at www.GetEnergySmart.org (click on "Save Money," then scroll down to "Find Energy Star Retailers Near You").

-- Tired of awakening to a chilly bedroom on winter mornings or forgetting to lower the heat when you go to work? A programmable thermostat will allow you to coordinate your home temperature with your daily and weekend living patterns to increase comfort and monetary savings.

-- Don't like coming home to a dark house on short winter days? Instead of leaving lights on, put timers on a few of the lights in your home to go on in the evening.

-- Don't heat the outdoors! The indoor air you are paying to heat can escape through leaky windows and doors. Check for air flow around these and other elements of your home's "shell," and plug leaks with caulking or weather-stripping.

-- Install motion detectors on exterior floodlights to improve your home security. The lights turn on when motion is detected, and turn off after a short delay.

-- Make sure your attic and/or ceiling are well insulated -- as well as the rest of your home. Also, make sure air ducts are free of leaks and properly insulated -- leaky ducts can cause a house to lose up to 20 or 30 percent of its energy.

-- Light up your life -- efficiently! Replace your five most used incandescent bulbs with five comparable compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs to save money. Also, put CFLs in hard-to-reach places, where it's inconvenient to change burned-out bulbs.

-- Let nature do its work and allow the sun to help heat your home by keeping blinds of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.

-- Don't heat what you don't use. Close off unoccupied or unused areas to reduce the need for heat. Close the dampers on fireplaces when not in use.

-- Turn off lights, appliances, TVs, and other electronics that are not in use.

-- Refinancing to take advantage of lower interest rates? Consider including the cost of energy efficiency home improvements that would reduce your monthly energy bills when you apply for a new mortgage or a home equity loan. In either case, the interest could be tax deductible. NYSERDA's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR(r) program helps you find a certified contractor to make your home as energy efficient, comfortable, and safe as possible, while saving up to 40 percent on your energy costs. Visit http://www.GetEnergySmart.org for more information.

-- Other valuable consumer and home energy information is on the website of the Alliance to Save Energy at http://www.ase.org/consumer.