In an effort to encourage customers to help manager their power use, save on utility bills, conserve resources and stay safe this winter, CenterPoint Energy is offering the following tips:
- Set your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower. Every degree of extra heating will increase energy usage 6% to 8%.
- Dress warmly.
- Use more blankets at night.
- Set ceiling fans on reverse to recirculate the heat that builds up near the ceiling.
- Cover windows on winter nights with insulated curtains.
- Open interior blinds, drapes, or shades during the day to let the sun warm your home during cooler months.
- Make sure your heating system is working properly. Malfunctioning home heating equipment can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Check that outside furnace vents aren’t blocked by snow or ice. Keep your furnace filter clean for safe, efficient operation.
- Use space heaters safely. Use a space heater with an automatic shut-off feature, and keep children, pets and all items at least 3 feet away. A space heater that uses gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
- Check your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. These devices are essential to warn you of a fire or dangerous condition involving a furnace, water heater, fireplace or stove. Test your alarms monthly and change batteries as recommended by the manufacturer.
- A furnace uses more energy than anything else in a home during the cold-weather months. Installing a programmable thermostat can help you automatically control your heat usage.
- Change your air filters monthly. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can increase the operating cost of your furnace by as much as 10%. A good reminder is to change the filter each time you receive your natural gas bill.
- Although appliances other than furnaces consume less natural gas, you can still maximize their efficiency. For example, run your washing machine, dishwasher and gas dryer only with full loads.
- Make your home more airtight and keep cold air outside by sealing leaks around doors, windows, and other openings such as pipes or ducts, with caulk or weather stripping. The most common places where air escapes in homes are floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
- If it has been a while, consider adding more insulation in your attic.
