Brutal Winter Weather Could Produce Soaring Heating Bills; Alliance to Save Energy Offers Money-Saving Energy Tips

Brutal Winter Weather Could Produce Soaring Heating Bills; Alliance to Save Energy Offers Money-Saving Energy Tips

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a fast-moving winter storm produces bitter, gusting Arctic air and snow in portions of the Midwest, South, and East this week , consumers could get an unwelcome surprise when they open their winter home energy bills.

Heating accounts for 31 percent of the typical home's energy costs, notes the Alliance to Save Energy which suggests a number of helpful winter energy efficiency tips to bring heating and related energy costs and use down while maintaining home comfort.

Two smart tips can reduce your heating costs by up to 20 percent:
-- Plug those air leaks. Your heating dollars could be going out your
windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Stop all those air leaks with
sealant or caulking and weather stripping.
-- Install appropriate insulation for your climate based on R-values.
Start with attic insulation, followed by exterior and basement walls,
floors, and crawl spaces. Insulate and seal attic air ducts.

The Alliance urges consumers to act now on these energy-saving measures since Uncle Sam is offering a 30 percent tax credit--a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your income taxes owed--of up to $1,500 in 2010 for specific energy efficiency home improvements, including insulation and sealing products. Details on qualifying products, which also include highly efficient furnaces, heat pumps, and windows, are available at www.ase.org/taxcredits.

In addition to plugging air leaks, the Alliance also offers other no-cost/low-cost tips:

-- Open curtains and other window treatments on your west- and
south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally
heat your home, and close them at night.
-- Let a programmable thermostat "remember for you" to lower the heat
while your home is empty and/or overnight to reduce heating costs by
up to 10 percent - and allow you to come home and wake up to a toasty,
comfortable house.
-- Keep furnace filters clean. Check and change your filter every month
during heavy use winter months to assist air flow so your system
doesn't have to work harder to keep you warm.
-- Seal your heating and cooling ducts. In a typical house with a forced
air system, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct
system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.
Sealing and insulating ducts increases efficiency, lowers home energy
bills, and can often pay for itself in energy savings. Insulate ducts
in unheated areas such as attics, crawlspaces, and garages with duct
insulation that carries an R-value of 6 or higher. Also, a
well-designed and sealed duct system may make it possible to downsize
to a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system that will provide
better dehumidification.
-- Properly maintain your HVAC system. Just as a tune-up for your car
can improve your gas mileage, a semi-annual or yearly tune-up of your
heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. The
federal government's ENERGY STAR website can help you find a qualified
individual
(www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_contractors_10tips).

Other home energy efficiency improvement tips that are eligible for tax credits:

-- Have to replace your HVAC equipment? Consider installing ENERGY
STAR-qualified heating and cooling equipment. Installed correctly,
these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and
cooling costs. And, certain highly efficient models qualify for the
current federal income tax credit.
-- Go "window shopping" at www.efficientwindows.org to discover how
high-performance windows can cut heating costs by as much as 30
percent compared to single-pane windows, while increasing indoor
comfort and lessening fading of home furnishings.

Watch for rebates this year on energy-efficient products:

-- Replacing or purchasing energy-using and energy-related products? Save
up to 30 percent in related energy bills with products earning the
ENERGY STAR label, the symbol of energy efficiency, on some 50 product
categories, including appliances, electronics, windows, lighting, and
home office equipment. Rebates may be offered by your state,
municipality, energy company, manufacturers, and retailers in your
area.

The Alliance offers consumers more money-saving energy tips on its website -- www.ase.org/consumers.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy, and national security.

Source: Alliance to Save Energy

CONTACT: Rozanne Weissman of Alliance to Save Energy, +1-202-530-2217,
rweissman@ase.org

Web Site: http://www.ase.org/

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