As
winter and the holiday season approaches let us pass along Energy.Gov recommended
ways to save on your energy bills: www.energy.gov/articles/12-days-energy-savings
DRIVE YOUR WAY TO FUEL SAVINGS
Whether
you are driving across town to do errands or across the country to visit
family, fuel costs can add up over the holidays. One way to reduce fuel consumption is
to empty your car after all your driving trips -- an extra 100 pounds in your
vehicle could increase gas costs by up to $.08 a gallon.
PLUG HOLIDAY DECORATIONS INTO POWER STRIPS
From
holiday lights to listening to Christmas carols on repeat, the holidays can
take a toll on your home’s energy consumption. Even when you are not using
lights and electronics, they still draw small amounts of energy -- at an average cost of $100 a year for
American households. Plug your electronics into a power strip and turn it off
to reduce your energy bills.
When
decking your house in holiday lights, use timer controls to lower energy
consumption and save money. Timer controls allow
you turn lights on and off at specific times, while staying in the holiday
spirit.
This
holiday, light up your home with LED lights. In addition to being sturdier and
more resistant to breakage, LED holiday lights also
last longer and consume 70 percent less energy than conventional incandescent
light strands. It only costs $0.27 to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day
for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights.
SAVE ENERGY IN THE KITCHEN
Between
holiday baking and meal preparation, your oven is probably working overtime.
Cooking alone accounts for 4.5 percent of your home’s energy use, and when
factoring in other kitchen appliances, your kitchen’s energy use can be as high
as 15 percent. By taking simple actions in the kitchen--
like using the right-sized pots on stove burners to save about $36 annually for
an electric range or $18 for gas, and using the oven light to check on a dish’s
progress to prevent heat loss instead of opening the door -- you can entertain
in style without raising your energy bill.
PURCHASE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
& AN ENERGY STAR BATTERY CHARGER
If
you are buying gifts that require batteries, consider purchasing rechargeable
batteries -- which are more cost effective than disposable batteries -- and an ENERGY STAR charger for
them. In the U.S. alone, more energy-efficient battery chargers could save
families more than $170 million annually.
BUY ENERGY STAR ELECTRONICS
Are
computers, TVs or other electronics on your wish list this holiday season? Be
sure to ask for ENERGY STAR home electronics for instant energy savings.
Depending on usage, an ENERGY STAR computer can
save 30-65 percent more energy compared a computer without this designation.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUNLIGHT
Use sunlight to your advantage this winter. Open curtains
during the day to allow sunlight to naturally warm your home, and close them at
night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
It
isn’t the holidays without a crackling fire, but don’t let your energy bills go
up with the smoke. Proper chimney maintenance --
like sealing your fireplace flue damper, caulking around your hearth, and
installing tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system to blow warmed
air back into the room -- will help keep warm air in your house and cold air
out.
Prepare YoUR WINDOWS FOR WINTER
Before you curl up on the couch in
front of the window this holiday season, be sure to take steps to reduce heat
loss. Weatherizing your windows can reduce drafts, and installing storm windows
can cut heat loss through your windows by 25-50 percent.
Lower your ThermosTAT When You are Not Home OR INSTALL A
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
Don’t
pay for warm air that you are not using. Lowering
your thermostat 10-15 degrees for 8 hours can save 5-15 percent a year on
heating bills. If you are traveling this holiday, be sure to lower your thermostat for
energy savings.
This
holiday, give the gift of energy savings by purchasing a professional home
energy audit for someone. A home energy audit helps you pinpoint where your
home is losing energy -- and what you can do to save money -- by checking for
air leaks, inspecting insulation, surveying heating and cooling equipment and
more. By making upgrades to your home following a home energy audit, you could
save 5-30 percent on your energy bills.
For
more winter money saving energy tips go to: www.energy.gov.
About Starion Energy
Starion is a licensed
electricity and gas supplier in the deregulated energy market since September
2009. Energy deregulation gives consumers the choice of an alternative
electric supplier and determines the rates and terms at which they purchase
electric generation services. Starion services markets in
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland,
New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Starion is
strategically positioned for continued growth in new markets for years to come.
For more information about Starion Energy, Inc.,
visit, www.starionenergy.com