MichCon Offers Tips to Save Energy and Manage Heating Bills This Winter
19 October 2005 - 7:05AM
PR Newswire (US)
DETROIT, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- As cooler temperatures signal the
start of another heating season, MichCon, DTE Energy's natural gas
subsidiary, suggests customers prepare their homes and their
budgets for winter. The price of natural gas has been increasing
all over the country -- not just in Michigan -- and heating bills
are expected to be significantly higher this winter. Energy saving
steps taken now can pay big dividends for customers, since about
three-quarters of most homes' annual gas usage occurs during the
winter months of November through March. MichCon offers the
following tips to help manage winter energy costs and save money on
energy bills: Budget wisely . . . * DTE Energy's Budgetwise Billing
program can take the seasonal ups and downs out of your energy
bills. DTE Energy will calculate an average monthly payment, based
on your previous year's usage. You pay that amount for 11 months;
the 12th bill of the year will reflect the difference between the
energy you actually used and the 11 payments you made. Enroll
online at http://www.my.dteenergy.com/ or by calling (800)
477-4747. Dial down . . . * While you can't control the weather or
the price of natural gas, you can manage your energy costs by using
natural gas wisely. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you
can save about three percent on your heating bill. * One way to
accomplish this is with an automatic set-back or programmable
thermostat, which can automatically lower the temperature when
you're away from the house, and automatically increase it before
you get home. * Homes with proper humidity levels will provide
greater comfort at lower temperatures. When humidity is kept at a
proper level -- about 35 percent at 70 degrees -- windows will not
sweat and the air won't feel dry. Replace the humidifier pad or
clean it of calcium deposits for best results. Fine tune your
furnace . . . * Schedule a heating system check-up. A qualified
heating contractor will make sure your heating system operates
efficiently and delivers the maximum energy savings. * Clean or
replace your furnace's air filters as needed during the winter
season. Dirty filters block the warm airflow in the home, which
causes the furnace to work harder and less economically. * Clean
and vacuum ducts, vents and heat registers. Check heat registers to
ensure that drapes or furniture do not block airflow. Add
insulation . . . * Install attic and basement insulation to keep
out drafts and make your home more energy efficient and warm.
Adding blown cellulose on top of rolled fiberglass insulation will
increase the insulation value of your attic. * Insulate all heating
ducts located in attics and unheated crawlspaces, and make sure
there are no leaks in your ductwork. * Place an insulation blanket
around your hot water heater. Electric water heaters should be
placed on an insulated surface, such as foam. Adjust water heater
temperature to the warm setting (about 120 degrees F). Keep the
cold air out and the warm air in . . . * Seal windows and doors
with caulk and weather stripping to block unwanted drafts. If caulk
cracks and peels away, it allows your home's heat to escape. *
Install a fireplace door to prevent cold air from entering. If you
have a gas fireplace, make sure the flue is partially open to allow
fumes from the pilot light to escape. * Keep your fireplace damper
closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like
keeping a window wide open during the winter. * Use kitchen, bath
and other ventilating fans wisely. In just one hour, these fans can
pull out a houseful of warm air. Turn fans off as soon as they have
done their job. Let the sun shine in . . . * Open curtains on south
facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat
your home. Be sure to close the curtains at night to reduce the
chill you may feel from cold windows. For more energy savings tips,
go to http://www.my.dteenergy.com/ . DATASOURCE: MichCon CONTACT:
Len Singer, +1-313-235-8809, or Eileen Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, both
of DTE Energy Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/
Copyright