DTE Energy Offers Tips To Save Energy and Manage Heating Bills This Winter
09 October 2007 - 2:21AM
PR Newswire (US)
DETROIT, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- As cooler temperatures signal the
start of another heating season, DTE Energy suggests customers
prepare their homes and their budgets for winter. Steps taken now
can pay big dividends. DTE Energy 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 ... -- You can manage your energy costs by using energy
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 your home. And, be sure to close the damper
unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like having a
window wide open during the winter. However, if you have a gas
fireplace, the flue should be partially open to allow fumes from
the pilot light to escape. -- 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: DTE Energy CONTACT:
Len Singer, +1-313-235-8809, or Eileen Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, both
of DTE Energy Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/
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