8 Easy Ways To Reduce Energy Usage This Winter

8 EASY WAYS TO REDUCE ENERGY USAGE THIS WINTER Brought to you by PALMCO Heating your home in the winter can require a lot of energy. An average home spends 29% of its energy on heating.' However, simply rearranging your furniture and changing a couple of habits can help reduce the amount of energy you need at little to no cost. 1 INSULATE YOUR ATTIC Increase the amount of Insulation in your attic, basement and outside walls to prevent cold air from leaking into your home. 2 LET THE SUN IN During the day, open your curtains to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce any chill from cold windows. 3 COVER DRAFTY WINDOWS Tape a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet tightly to the inside of your window frames during the winter months to keep cold air out. You can also install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows to keep the heat in and the cold wind out. MOVE FURNITURE AWAY FROM VENTS Your furniture might be blocking the flow of heat out of vents! Something as simple as moving your furniture can help you save on your heating bill. 5 COLD FEET? GET A CARPET OR RUG A carpet or rug in your living room is not only great for comfort but also helps keep heat in during the winter. 6 68 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER Did you know that you can reduce energy use by 15% if you lower your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours?? Just wear warmer clothes, set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees when you are home, and lower the temperature when you go to bed. 7 UPGRADE TO ENERGY- EFFICIENT LED LIGHT BULBS LED light bulbs offer the same light quality as traditional incandescent bulbs, but provide energy savings of at least 75% and last a lot longer. 8 TOASTER OVENS AREN'T JUST FOR TOAST Want to bake warm cookies to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate? Use the toaster oven instead of a conventional oven because it uses up to 50% less energy to cook the same meal. PALMCO Energy is a family owned and operated energy supply company (ESCO) that supplies gas and electricity in Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Our family has been in the energy business for 75 years, and we dedicate ourselves to providing quality service, customer satisfaction, dependable energy, and competitive prices. For more information, please visit www.palmcoenergy.com. 1 ENERGY STAR website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_save_energy_at_home. 2 Department of Energy: http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/thermostats. 3 ENERGY STAR website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c-ssl.pr_why_es_com. 4 ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report, Toaster Ovens, November 2011: http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/downloads/ENERGY_STAR_Scoping_Report_Toaster_Ovens.pdf. PALMCO