- Insulate your home to keep the heat in the living area. Adequate insulation
can reduce your heating costs by as mush as 36%. Minimum recommended
ceiling insulation is R-19; walls R-11. Weather-stripping can also prove
a wise investment in comfort and fuel savings.
- On cold days and nights, draw window drapes to prevent heat loss.
Heat escapes through glass window panes 14 times faster than through
plaster walls. However, on sunny winter days, open your drapes to take
advantage of the sun's warmth.
- Set your thermostat at 68° or below. Increasing room temperature
only one degree can raise your heating costs as much as 3%. Lower your
thermostat before retiring or when leaving home for the day. Do not
turn heat totally off unless you plan an extended absence.
- Close off rooms not in use and turn off the source of heat to those
rooms.
- Keep forced-air system filters and return-air grilles clean.
- Do not place furniture in front of heat sources. Adequate air circulation
is essential to achieve maximum heating efficiency.
- A humidifier will help keep humidity near the ideal 55% in your home
and will result in a comfortable environment at a lower temperature.
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- Set your air conditioner thermostat at 78° or higher. Keep the unit
turned off when you are away from home for most of the day.
- Keep interior lighting at he lowest visually acceptable level. Heat
form home illumination and household appliances places added burdens
on cooling equipment. Keep home lighting and the use of electric appliances
at a minimum during the heat of the day. Use task lighting rather than
general lighting wherever possible.
- Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Cover large glass
areas with lined interior drapes. Install awnings or plantings to shade
glass from direct sunlight.
- Use ventilators or wind turbines in the attic to prevent heat buildup.
To reduce demands on cooling equipment, use exhaust fans in the high-humidity
areas where you cook, launder and bathe.
- Insulating attics and outside walls, and weatherstripping all windows
and outside doors, helps prevent excessive heat entry and cool air escape.
Blown-in insulation tend to compact and lose its efficiency after several
years, so consider the advantages of re-insulating. It's not expensive
and it's an excellent investment in comfort.
- Regular inspection and maintenance of your air conditioning system
is recommended. Change air filters frequently.
- When painting or repainting your home exterior, remember that light
colors lessen heat absorption by reflecting sunlight; dark colors absorb
and retain the sun's heat.
- Use conventional fans whenever possible. They provide a cooling effect
at a very low cost.
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