Energy Conservation Tips

We sell fuel oil to heat your home and domestic hot water, but we are concerned about rising energy costs. The answer to rising energy costs is to conserve energy. That can be accomplished by keeping your equipment in top condition with proper maintenance and making sure the energy you pay for is not wasted.

We have included this section to inform you where much of your energy is consumed in your home and ways to conserve that energy. Some of the conservation tips are simple things you can do, while others may require the help of other professionals.

Many items simply inform you of areas where you can save energy and money simply by making small changes in your daily habits.

Where energy is lost in your home:

Where your home energy is used:

Energy by the numbers

5 ways to cut your domestic water heating bills

You can reduce heating bills by:

Be smart when you use your fireplace

Keep the warm air in your house by:

On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick neat your windows, doors, electrical boxes, and near plumbing fixtures or anyplace else you suspect may be leaking energy. If the smoke moves in a horizontal path, you have found a leak. Using caulk, weather stripping, or sealing the area will stop this energy loss.

If you combined all the gaps around windows and doors of the average home, you could create a 9 square foot hole in your wall. That’s a lot of wasted energy, both for heating and cooling and is the source of almost 50% of the energy that escapes from your home.

To save money use caulk to seal cracks, gaps and small holes in areas where:

To help caulk stick, make sure the area is free of debris.

Keep draperies closed and use shades to retain heat during the winter, particularly along the north side of the home. Light and heat will enter from windows facing the south so make use of this source of free energy,

Make sure the tops and bottoms of drapes keep the outside temperature away from your living areas. Seal the top with cloth or wooden valences while using magnets or weights to keep the bottom of the drape close to the wall.

Check the insulation levels in your walls and attic. Remember over 31% of heat is lost through these areas. This is an area where you will receive the greatest benefit for the money spent to conserve energy in your home. Many insulation projects are easy for the homeowner to do himself.

REASONS TO HAVE YOUR SYSTEM TUNED UP

The best way to improve your heating system is to get regular tune-ups. Besides saving money on fuel, tune-ups can reveal safety problems such as frayed wires, worn parts, or a blocked chimney or flue.

By having your heating system cleaned and serviced yearly you can save you up to 10% on your fuel consumption each year. A tune up also removes the impurities that build up in your system. Besides returning your heating system to peak efficiency, you’ll extend the life of critical parts like the heat exchanger by having your system cleaned and tuned on a regular basis.

CONSERVATION TIPS

Planting trees and shrubs will not only make your home more attractive, but may help you save money on energy costs. Planting evergreens on the north side of your home to protect your home from cold winter winds that can cost you 10-20% of your heating costs.

Planting deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the winter on the south side of your home helps save energy all year long. During the summer, the leaves shade your home saving money (about 10-20%) on air conditioning. When the trees shed their leaves, warm sunlight can warm your home in the fall and winter.

Installing a ceiling fan will allow you to circulate air in the room and save money all year. The fan will move air in the summer making it seem cooler in the room. In the winter the warm air will rise and if the fan circulates the air down toward the living area you can take advantage of this warm air. Insulate ducts that pass through unheated spaces and have your ducts checked for any leaks.

Change and clean the filters in your heating system at least once a month. If you must change filters more frequently than once a month, consider getting your ducts cleaned to remove the excess dust and other impurities from your heating system. For more information on duct cleaning provided by our company, please click on duct cleaning to visit that portion of our website.

Begin using compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you spend $1.00 for energy when using an incandescent light bulb you get about 85 hours of light. However the same amount of energy provides 350 hours of equal light with compact fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs also give off less heat and last longer providing additional savings.

Thermostats are your energy friends.

Your thermostat may be tricked into wasting energy in your home. Having the thermostat located in direct sun from a window, near your refrigerator, cooking area, TV set, computer may give a false need for heating or cooling in your home. Keep the area around your thermostat free from drafts caused by nearby doors or windows.

Use a clock thermostat (also known as a set back thermostat) to regulate temperatures when you are not at home. You can save as much as 10% if you use an automatic setback thermostat or programmable thermostat for 8 hours per day. You can select the temperature and times for the energy savings and may vary the settings for each day of the week.

Don’t fool your thermostat by locating it near sources of heat (stoves, televisions, computers, below heating ducts) causing the rest of the house to remain cold. The opposite effect occurs when the thermostat is located near outside doors and windows that are opened frequently.

We have included information on thermostats on our website. Click on accessories to find information on some setback thermostats for your home.

Plan for ahead for winter weather

Before it gets cold outside, turn your heating system on and make sure it is working properly. If you notice a problem, call our office NOW and let us schedule one of our service technicians to check your system before the cold weather gets here.

Wrap water pipes to protect against freezing and bursting. Don’t forget hot water pipes, they will freeze before cold water pipes. Also wrapping the pipes will keep the water hot longer while it travels from your hot water heater to the faucet.

Check your supply of rock salt or other de-icer to keep your sidewalks and driveways clear of ice. A supply of kitty litter is good for traction; you may want to keep a small container in your car in case you need traction.

Make sure your snow shovel is in good condition and where you can find it after a snowfall. If you have back problems, there are now shovels that are designed to reduce the stress on your back.

Mark the location of your oil fill pipe so we can find it for your deliveries. Underground tank fill pipes can become hidden with leaves or snow. Basement fill locations may be hidden by bushes in addition to leaves and snow.

Carry an emergency kit in your car, especially if you drive long distances. These items could allow you to make a minor repair, or keep you comfortable until help arrives.

The following are suggestions to include:

Dressing in layers will make you more comfortable

Dressing in layers, or with temperature correct clothing will allow you to lower the thermostat and use less energy without sacrificing comfort. Reducing the thermostat 1 degree can save you about 2-3% on your heating bill. The following chart shows some suggestions and savings.

Even when properly insulated, your walls will absorb 10-15% of the heat produced by radiators or baseboard heating systems. To increase the heat in your rooms, place a metal reflector or a sheet of cardboard with tin foil attached to reflect heat into the center of your room.

Windows do more than let light into your home

Drafts under doors or windows allow warm air to escape from your home. An easy way to block this escape path around doors involves placing "snakes" (fabric filled with bulky material) along the bottom of doors or windows that are opened frequently.

Windows allow light into your home but poor quality windows allow much of your heating dollars to escape.

Storm windows provide another barrier between the comfort of your home and the temperature outside. You can install windows inside your home at a reasonable cost and still be able to open the window easily.

Inner storm window kits that use clear plastic to reduce drafts are inexpensive, yet keep you from using the window. The better kits allow you to shrink the plastic with heat from a hair dryer for a better seal from outside air.

Drapes and curtains can be closed at night to keep the warm air inside your room, yet allow the sunlight to provide light and heat during the daytime. Window frames that keep the drapes or curtains from allowing air to pass along the edges will also increase your energy savings.

If your windows are not in good condition with rotting wood, poor sealing with the outside, cracked glass, etc. consider replacing them. New windows may be cleaned from the inside, eliminating the need for ladders, and often are made with double paned glass to improve the energy efficiency of your home. They may also help improve the appearance of your home for increased value when you decide to sell your home.

Insulation helps save energy at a relative low cost

Check the insulation levels in your walls and attic. Remember over 31% of heat is lost through these areas. This is an area where you will receive the greatest benefit for the money spent to conserve energy in your home. Many insulation projects are easy for the homeowner to do himself.

Did you know that insulation today is better quality than what was sold just 10 years ago? Good insulation may save you up to 20% or more on your heating cost and about 10% for cooling.

Insulation is rated using an "R" value describing the length of time it takes heat to move through material. The insulation creates pockets that trap warm air and keeps the air from escaping from your living area. The greater the "R" value, the higher insulation factor for your house.

If you do not know the amount of insulation in your home, check with a agreementor in your area. He will help you determine the areas where you could increase insulation to save money and also provide an estimate of the materials needed and cost to install them if you cannot do that yourself.

Insulation is not only for the attic and walls of the home. Insulation may be placed around hot water pipes to reduce loss of heat between the hot water heater and faucet. Insulation around the hot water heater (check with the manufacturer first) could help keep more hot water in your tank without extra energy cost.

Ductwork insulation is often forgotten when doing an energy audit of your home. Keeping the heated air (and cooled air when using your air conditioner) inside the duct will pay for itself in a short period of time.

Insulation will not help save energy if it becomes wet. Proper installation and use of vapor barriers will increase your home comfort.