SPOKANE, Wash. — Over the next couple of days, the Inland Northwest will be seeing some of the lowest temperatures so far this winter. To help prepare for this cold front, Avista has released some tips to help maintain comfort, save energy and be ready for outages.
Weather has a significant impact on energy usage and many people’s electricity bills become expansive as temperatures dip into the 10-20 degrees.
“In our region, heating is responsible for 40-60% of the energy use you see on your energy bill,” said Meghan Pinch, Energy Efficiency Program Manager at Avista. “That’s why keeping heat inside is so critical in the winter. If heat escapes through cracks or windows, your home will use more energy and your heater will run more often than it should to keep your space warm. The extra energy use is what drives winter bills up.”
If you cover up air leaks in your home, you may be able to cut monthly energy use by up to 10%.
Here are some tips on how to decrease your energy usage in the winter months:
Seal air leaks around windows and doors with easy-to-install weatherstripping, removable rope caulk, or permanent tube caulk.Stop cold air drafts that come through windows by installing removable window plastic. For a more permanent solution, install insulated curtains or honeycomb shadesStop heated air from escaping through vents by turning off kitchen, bathroom and other ventilation fans, when you don’t need them. In just one hour, they can suck all the warm air out of a house.If you’re not using your fireplace, close the chimney flue. If it’s left open, all the heat in your home will be sucked straight up and out of the house. Wrap your window or wall air conditioner and consider an alternative to an always-open pet door, too.
“When you’ve sealed your air leaks and stopped cold air drafts, you’ll feel more comfortable and won’t be as tempted to bump your thermostat up,” according to Pinch. “Avista recommends setting your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and turning it down when you go to bed or leave the house. Lowering it just 3 degrees further and consistently keeping it there can also save up to 10% on your monthly energy use.”
No matter what type of heating system you have in your home, it will work harder when temperatures drop below freezing. Try to keep your indoor humidity level between 30-45% to help you feel warmer.
For more energy-saving ideas and DIY videos, head over to Avista’s website.
Avista also recommends having an emergency preparedness kit on hand at all times. In the case of unplanned outages, make sure to have a flashlight with fresh batteries, a portable battery-operated radio, a cell phone with battery back-up, water and nonperishable food.
