Xcel Energy is preparing for temperatures in the Upper Midwest to drop below zero starting Thursday, and the company is offering tips to help customers save energy during the extreme cold to reduce the impact on their energy bills.
Xcel Energy plans ahead to ensure it can provide customers with safe, reliable and affordable electricity and natural gas even on the coldest days.
Winter heating can account for about half of a typical customer’s monthly energy costs. The biggest step customers can take to save energy is by lowering their thermostats a few degrees if they have a natural gas furnace. Savings tips include:
- Lower your thermostat: During winter months, set the thermostat between 65-70 degrees while you’re home, and 58 degrees when you’re away. Reducing the temperature on a thermostat by one degree can lower energy bills by up to 3% percent. A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your routine and could help you save on heating costs.
- Let the sunlight in and keep the cold out: Open blinds to take advantage of the sun’s warmth during the day but close them at night to insulate against the cold air outside.
- Make sure exterior doors are fully closed: A major source of heat loss is from exterior doors that are left cracked open or not latched.
- Use fans to your advantage: During colder months, run ceiling fans clockwise, so the warm air near the ceiling is forced down.
- Keep your oven’s heat where it belongs: Use your oven light or timer to avoid opening it often while you cook; each time the door is opened even for just a few seconds, the temperature drops 25 degrees.
- Lower your water heater’s temperature or insulate it: By lowering your water heater’s temperature 10 degrees, you can save 3-5% on your water heating costs; be sure to keep it at least 120 degrees. You can also insulate it to maximize efficiency.
- Keep filters clean: Dirty furnace filters reduce airflow, requiring your furnace to work harder and use more energy. Change the filter once a month during the winter to reduce your heating costs by 5-15%.
- Don’t let the heat escape: Affordable window sealing kits can be found in most local home improvement stores and can help you save. Have your home evaluated for leaky ducts, drafts around doors and windows, fireplace dampers and other places where air might escape.
- Improve insulation: Improving the insulation of walls, crawl spaces, floors and heating ducts is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy costs, saving you up to 10% on your monthly energy bill.
More information on ways to save energy can be found on the Energy Saving Tipspage at xcelenergy.com.
