Published on 01/02/2024
5 ways to reduce your energy use this season.
A drafty home can cause your heating costs to skyrocket. Use weather-stripping around windows and doors to seal up leaks.
For bigger cracks and gaps, use caulking to fill them in. Curtains, insulating blinds, and door draft stoppers can also help lower heating costs.
Programming your thermostat makes a big impact on your home’s energy use. Lowering your thermostat 7°F to 10°F from its normal setting for eight hours a day can save you money on your heating costs.
For example, if your thermostat is set to 68°F when you are home, program it to between 58°F and 61°F when you leave the house.
If you have a smart thermostat, you can set it to automatically make this adjustment and raise the temperature before you get home.
In colder months, open curtains or blinds on windows that receive a lot of sunlight to naturally heat your home. Then close them at night to retain heat.
In hot summer months, the same curtains and blinds can help keep your home cool by blocking out the sunlight.
Opting for a heated blanket instead of cranking up the heater on chilly days and nights can reduce your heating costs. Running your heating system 24/7 can be expensive, and even a single plug-in space heater can cost over $100 per month if you run it most of the time.
An electric blanket uses far less energy to operate and can save you money on your electricity bill.
During soup season, take advantage of your slow cooker. Slow cookers use a lot less energy than ovens. Plus, you can save time on cooking.
Using smaller kitchen appliances like toaster ovens and microwaves to cook and heat up food instead of the oven or stovetop can also lead to significant energy savings.
Need an activity for a rainy day? Our DIY Toolkits come with free LED lightbulbs, weather-stripping, and low-flow showerheads for easy home upgrades.
The toolkit also contains measuring tools to help you understand how much energy and water your home uses. Check one out at almost any Sonoma or Mendocino County Library.
Source used for this blog: U.S. Department of Energy
You may be eligible for a reduced energy rate, bill payment assistance, financial support for home weatherization projects, or a payment forgiveness plan.
Financial assistance overview
Apply for CARE/FERA discount programs
Apply for the Medical Baseline Program
Apply for a payment forgiveness plan
