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With heating fuel prices generally lower than
last year's levels, many homeowners this winter could be in for a pleasant surprise
when they open their monthly bills. Those who take steps to improve energy efficiency
might even start to recover some of the extra cash they spent keeping warm over
the last few years.
On average, the Energy Information Administration,
or EIA, reports households heating primarily with natural gas, the
most popular source of heating fuel, can expect to spend about $119
(13 percent) less this winter in fuel expenditures. The price of
natural gas last year was artificially high, a result of hurricane
damage to oil refineries.
Households heating primarily with propane can expect
to pay an average of $15 (1 percent) less this winter, according
to EIA, while those that heat with electricity will pay out $58
more on average (a 7 percent increase). The relatively small number
of heating oil users should expect to pay about $91 (6 percent)
more.
"If you do have a little extra in your household budget
this year because of lower heating bills, and many Americans will,
then consider investing some of that money in energy-saving products,"
says Ronnie Kweller, spokeswoman for the Alliance to Save Energy,
a Washington-based nonprofit coalition focused on energy conservation.
"Not only will it make your home more comfortable, but it will also
lower your energy bills for years to come and make you much less
vulnerable to the ups and downs of the marketplace (for fuel)."
Though the average American family spends roughly
$1,900 per year on energy bills, the amount individual households
spend for heat varies dramatically depending on local weather conditions,
the size of their homes, efficiency of their heating equipment and
their thermostat settings.
You can't do much about the climate, of course, but
you can alter some of those variables to cut your own utility costs
down to size -- often at little to no expense. More ambitious homeowners
who also opt to upgrade old windows and appliances could save up
to 30 percent, or about $600, on their annual heating bills, according
to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Low-cost solutions
The easiest way to reduce energy consumption in your home is to
simply lower your thermostat in the winter. The optimal setting
for homeowners is between 66 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime,
according to Energy Star, a joint program of the EPA and the Department
of Energy.
"For every degree consumers lower their home's
temperature, we estimate they can save up to 5 percent of the heating portion
of their energy bill," says Kweller.
It pays, too, to purchase a programmable thermostat
that automatically lowers your heat 10 or 15 degrees at night and
during working hours when you're not at home. When used properly,
such devices (which cost anywhere from $30 to $100) can save you
roughly $150 per year, notes the EPA.
A caulking gun and a $10 package of weatherstripping
are the next most effective weapons in your battle against Mother
Nature. Take a good look around your house, sealing all seams, cracks
and openings to the outside. A do-it-yourself energy
efficiency audit can help pinpoint parts of your home that squander
the most energy.
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