Using less energy is easier said than done
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, November 22, 2003
By Kristin Fetters-Walp / Special to The Herald
Experts say reducing energy bills in winter without getting cold can be as simple as dressing a little warmer or as complex as finding and sealing hidden air leaks.
“The least expensive energy savings strategy is to change our energy consumption behaviors. For many of us, this is also the most difficult,” said Bill Beuscher, Snohomish County Human Services weatherization supervisor.
Here are some of what Beuscher and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency experts consider meaningful steps to a more energy efficient household in winter:
Use warmer clothes and bedding.
Turn off computers, lights, radios and TVs when not in use.
Take shorter showers. Turn water off while lathering.
Let the sun in. Clean windows for maximum solar gain.
Close window coverings at night.
Run dishwashers and washers with full loads.
Keep freezers full.
Clean refrigerator coils regularly.
Use cold water laundry cycles; switch from hot to warm when possible.
Set water heater at 120 degrees F or less.
When gone two days or more, turn off water heater.
Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps.
Install a programmable thermostat and set it cooler when asleep or out.
Check attic insulation for gaps and tears. Repair to optimum levels.
Clean or replace furnace filters monthly.
Caulk between heat register edges and mounting surfaces.
Install weather stripping around doors.
Add storm windows or film to single-pane windows. Consider replacing with more efficient windows.
Repair leaky faucets promptly.
When a furnace, water heater, washing machine or other major appliance needs replacing, buy Energy Star-certified models. Front-loading washers use less electricity, hot water and detergent.
Conduct an energy audit. Information is available to help homeowners and renters do it themselves. Check with utility companies or the Washington Energy Extension Service for pointers.
Kristin Fetters Walp is a Lake Stevens freelance writer.
