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POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Cut energy costs around the house this winter

Temperatures are going down, bills are going up and stress is heading through the roof as families struggle to pay for the increasing costs of energy for their homes.

Many Whatcom County residents are looking for ways to save as winter and its attendant costs come creeping in.

"I am totally swamped," says Robert Stockmann, owner of Bellingham-based Pinnacle Inspections, which does energy audits to pinpoint where homes are wasting energy.

Homeowners looking to save money in this season of economic uncertainty also have been deluging the Opportunity Council's weatherization program, which provides investigations and energy-use evaluations of homes throughout Whatcom, San Juan and Island counties.

"This year for the first year (Island County's) phone system was actually shut down with all the people calling. They're usually able to handle it," says John Davies, director of the Building Performance Center at the nonprofit Opportunity Council. "The need this year is definitely increased."

Stockmann and Davies share their tips for changes people can make around the home to save on energy costs.

Leakage: The biggest energy waster in cold months is air leakage. Check for gaps under trim around doors and windows, even outlets on exterior walls. Attics and crawl spaces are warm-air vampires, so check for gaps and holes where things connect to the exterior. Caulking and sealing is a must; without it insulation isn't nearly as effective.

Also make sure that all heating ducts are properly connected so heat isn't lost before it gets into living spaces.

Windows: The free and easy thing to do is shut the drapes during cloudy days and at night to provide an extra layer of insulation.

Water: There are a few free things people can do to cut down on the cost of heating water. Turning down the water heater temperature to 120 degrees is a recommended money saver. Washing clothes in cold water and taking shorter showers are other small ways to save.

For a bigger investment that will save in the long run, try Energy Star-rated appliances when washers, dryers, dishwaters, water heaters or refrigerators need to be replaced. Products that earn an Energy Star rating have met energy-efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Heat: One idea that will cost a little but save a lot is purchasing a programmable thermostat that you can set to warm up the house before you get home from work and before you wake up in the morning. "(They're) effective; you can save about 15 percent on your energy bills," Stockmann says. "It's a set it and forget it type of deal."

If that's not an option, then turn down the heat to about 58 degrees at night and when you're out of the house.

"The rule of thumb is that each degree you set a thermostat back during an eight-hour period translates to a 1-percent saving on heat costs," Davies says. "So setting the thermostat back 10 degrees for eight hours at night translates to an approximate 10 percent savings on heating costs."

Saving could be as simple as keeping baseboard heaters and radiators free and clear so that warm air can circulate easily.

Furnaces: Have your furnace tuned up annually, and change your air filters every 30 days during the heating season. While you're doing that, make sure the filter fits snugly. If there are gaps, dust and debris can clog the furnace motor and make it run less efficiently or burn it out.