COPING WITH HOME HEATING COSTS Information for consumers Kentucky consumers can take a number of steps to reduce their natural gas usage or to soften the impact of gas costs. They include: Budget billing: This option allows customers to pay the same amount each month, based on their average monthly usage during the year. Customers should contact their utility for more information. Energy conservation measures: Simple steps such as turning down thermostats on furnaces (most people are comfortable at 68 degrees) and water heaters (120 degrees is hot enough for nearly all uses) can be big energy savers. Energy audits: Many local utilities offer home energy audits at little or no cost to consumers. These audits can identify energy-wasting trouble spots and provide information on how to correct the problems. Weatherization: Consumers can do a number of things to reduce inflows of cold air and leakage of warm air, particularly around windows and doors. Some basic weatherization steps include: Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal cracks around windows, doors, pipes and other points where cold air can enter the home. This alone can reduce heating costs by 10 percent or more. Install energy-efficient doors and windows. Add insulation in attics, crawl spaces and walls. Cover windows, especially those with single-pane glass, with storm windows or plastic sheeting before the onset of cold weather. Clean or replace furnace filters monthly to improve airflow and efficiency. Advice on conserving energy, including links to a wide range of information, also is available from the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence on the Web at: energy.ky.gov/efficiency/.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:35:24 +0000
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