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Home Energy Saving Tips
Heating & Insulating
Turn Down the Thermostat
Turning down the thermostat by 1 degree F, can save 25-30 gallons of heating oil per year. That’s up to 3% of an average homes yearly consumption, or between $79-$95 per year at the current average rate of heating oil ($3.17/gallon). Turn down your thermostat to 55 degrees when the house is unoccupied. It takes about 1 hour to heat the average house to a desired temperature. It is a common myth that turning the thermostat down makes you burn more heating oil in warming up the house again. When at home during the day, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees is a comfortable maximum temperature. At night when you are sleeping, around 60 degrees should be comfortable.
More Tips...
- Seal any leaks in your heating or cooling system ducts. Also fix leaks in water/steam heat pipes. Savings: 5-25 percent of heating/cooling costs.
- Insulate attic access and basement trap doors with R-19 insulation. Savings: 1-3 percent of heating/cooling costs.
- You can cut your heating costs up to 25% simply by installing proper ceiling insulation to at least R-30 standards. Insulate walls, floors and heating ducts, too. This insulation will not only keep heat from escaping, but will also make your home more comfortable.
- By caulking and weather-stripping, you can cut your heating bills up to 10%. Weather-strip doors and windows, and caulk air leaks around windows, doorframes, pipes and ducts.
- Use clear plastic sheets to insulate windows during the heating season. Savings: 2-7 percent of heating/cooling costs.
- Repair any holes in your roof, walls, doors, ceilings, windows and floors. Savings: Up to 10 percent of heating/cooling costs.
- Seal off electric receptacles and switch boxes with foam gaskets or fiberglass insulation. Savings: 1-3 percent of heating/cooling costs.
- Install storm or thermal (replacement) windows. These tightly fitting windows give the benefit of double-pane glass. Air trapped between the two panes acts as a thermal insulator, keeping your heated air inside where it belongs. Be sure to get windows that have the new super-efficient low-emissivity glazing.
Efficiency Maine Energy Facts
- During 2003 – 2005, the Efficiency Maine Program saved home owners, schools, and businesses more than 121 million kilowatt hours (kWh) with a lifetime economic benefit to the state of $86.6 million.
- In 2006, Efficiency Maine saved more than 74 million kWh, which helped avert the production of more than 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a major pollutant contributing to global warming. These savings are equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 11,000 homes in Maine and the carbon pollution reduction of taking 7,624 cars off the road.
Efficiency Maine is a statewide effort to promote the more efficient use of electricity, help Maine residents and businesses reduce electricity costs and improve Maine’s environment. It was created in 2002 by the Maine Legislature with the passing of “An Act to Strengthen Energy Conservation.” For more information on the annual report or energy efficiency, visit the PUC’s Efficiency Maine website at efficiencymaine.com or call 1-866-ESMAINE.
Please note that the savings referenced are for a typical household. In addition, the savings percentages apply only to the category of energy use. For example, using fluorescent lamps saves 30 to 38 percent of your lighting bill, not your total electric bill. The figures cannot be added to find your total savings.
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Public
Utilities Commission