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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 6:16 pm Subject: Winters right around the corner

Cold weather is approaching and that means high utility bills.Heres some things you can do to help with the cost,since they are saying some will see an 50% increase this year.I know my electric bill is the biggest bill Im paying right now,I never have enough to pay it in full,and with the cold weather coming,I will be getting out those warm blankets to snuggle in,so that I can keep the cost down.Heres the list,can you think of any to add? Idea

Turn down the thermostat. A general rule of thumb is that you can save about 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, turning down the thermostat 10 degrees when you leave for work, and again when you go to bed--a total of 16 hours a day--can lower your heating bill by about 14%. Install an automatic setback thermostat so you don't have to remember to do it.

Limit fires in the fireplace, and close the damper. Heat rises, so an open damper is like a hole in the roof.

Close off seldom-used rooms. Shut the vents inside.

Lower the temperature on your water heater to 115 to 120 degrees. You'll reduce power use, and you probably won't notice the difference.

Clear rugs and furniture from heating vents. Let air circulate efficiently.

Shut curtains at night. This helps slow the escape of the heat. Then open them during the day--particularly on south-facing windows--to allow solar radiation to warm your house.

Caulk those gaps. You could save up to 10% on your heating bill by filling the small gaps around windows, doors, and other areas. To find the leaks, on a windy day hold a lit incense stick around chimney flashing, recessed lighting, sill plates, window and door frames, ducts, flues, and electrical outlets

Minimize use of ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. Fans pull hot air out of a room quickly.

When you shower, leave the bathroom door open to spread heated steam throughout the house.

Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:13 pm Subject:

Thanks for these wonderful tips. I will do everything but not the last one you said. Wink

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:25 pm Subject:

thanks for the advice. so many utility prices ARE going up. ugh.

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:30 pm Subject:

We are also going to put that disgusting plastic on our windows! I hate it, but you do what you have to in order to save money.

We are buying a wood stove and cutting our own wood too. That should be a huge decrease.

I also bought a small space heater with a thermostat and we are keeping the baby in our room this winter.

I am also going to try to sew heavier drapes. They are so expensive to buy, but even someone with limited sewing talents like me should be able to sew them.

Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:26 pm Subject:

Heavy drapes is a very good idea,I have heavy ones in most of my rooms and it helps alot even in the summer with air conditioning.

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:02 pm Subject:

Also if you have central air and heat you can keep your heat set at a temperature that wont be to hot or too cold and thats around about 70 or 75 and keep it on auto inside of shutting it on and off and that will keep your electric bill down.Same goes for the air as well I learned that before that you can keep your bills down that way!

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 9:10 am Subject:

I hate the cold weather. I feel like I'm trapped and all the windows are shut and if you put plastic over them you can't see out into the beautiful world.

Crying or Very sad

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