Winter is almost here!
The official arrival of winter comes with the winter solstice's occurrence at 11:19 p.m. EST December 21, according to the National Weather Service.
That means the season is here to find ways to stay warm and avoid winter's chill while keeping your energy bills in check.
Our heat and energy assistance partners — which include Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, Great Lakes Energy, Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) — have some ideas on how you can reduce your household's energy use this winter:
- Heat efficiently. Install a programmable thermostat and lower your home's temperature when you are away or asleep
- Invite sunshine. Open the curtains and shades on windows facing the west and south to allow natural sunlight in.
- Maintain your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Make sure to clean or change your furnace filters on a regular basis; and consider a winter tune-up for your furnace.
- Reduce the hot water heater. Consider lowering your water heater's temperature, particularly if you're away. Water heating is the second largest home energy expense.
- Reverse your ceiling fan. Turn it to clockwise in the cold months to keep warm air from rising.
- Seal leaks. Slide draft guards under doors to save up to 20 percent on heating costs; seal leaks around chimneys, fireplaces, recessed lighting and electrical outlets; and caulk doors and windows.
- Tempered glass doors added to fireplaces help avoid losing indoor heat through chimneys.
- Turn electronics and lights off. It's simple: don't leave appliances, electronics and lights on that don't need to be.
- Wash clothes efficiently. A washing machine spends 90 percent of its energy to heat water. Consider using cold water instead and run full loads as much as possible.
- Wash dishes efficiently. Avoid the rinse hold cycle, skip on heated drying and do air drying instead.
