News
ENLARGE
Are you making resolutions for the New Year? Is saving money is among them? If so, then you might consider ways to reduce your home energy costs. This can be as simple as reducing heat in unused rooms, unplugging appliances not in use, and turning off the lights when you exit a room.
You can save money on your winter heating bills by following these tips. Keep your home at 67 degrees or lower. Each degree above this temperature adds 3% to your heating bill.
Allow your house to be cooler when you're not home or at night when you're sleeping. Setting your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours can cut your annual heating bill up to 15%. You should consider only heating unused rooms enough to prevent mold and moisture buildup. Whole-house heating furnaces have different requirements, so check your owner's manual or talk to your local utilities company. Make sure you caulk, seal, and weather-strip all cracks to the outside of your house. Have good insulation: higher R-values are better. Poorly insulated attics allow heat to escape from your home.
Did you know that your refrigerator uses more energy than other appliances in the house? It is recommended that once a year, pull your refrigerator forward and dust off the coils (remember to unplug the appliance first!). You can also help reduce the energy your refrigerator uses by cooling hot foods before placing them inside it. Operate your refrigerator at a temperature between 38 and 42 degrees. If it's time to purchase new appliances, check for the Energy Star label.
Washing machines and clothes dryers are also energy sinkholes. There are techniques to reduce energy usage when doing laundry. Wash clothes in warm or cold water and rinse with cold water. Washing in cold water can reduce energy use by 75%. Adjust the water level to fit your load size. Keep the dryer's lint trap clean. Be sure to sort loads by clothing weight and material type. Consider line-drying your clothes when conditions are suitable. You can also use a wooden rack inside your house.
Don't overlook trees. Deciduous trees will allow sunlight to reach your home in the winter. Trees and shrubs planted near a home can provide a wind block. During the summer, both evergreen and deciduous trees can shade your home, reducing the amount of air conditioning you may need.
Douglas County OSU Extension will be hosting the Climate Masters at HomeTM program, which is a 10-week community program devised to help people reduce their home energy costs and personal carbon footprints. Classes are from 6 to 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday nights from Jan. 5 through March 9 at the United Community Action Network campus, 280 Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg. Registration is due by Dec. 23. The cost is $50 per person or $75 per couple. Courses include Weatherization & Home Energy, Sustainable Living, Renewable Energy Sources, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Transportation, Sustainable Landscaping & Gardening, Food & Low Carbon Cooking, and Green Building. To learn more, contact the office at 672- 4461 or e-mail holly.burton@oregonstate.edu.
Raini Rippy is an extension forester for OSU Extension Service in Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at raini.rippy@oregonstate.edu or at 672-4461.
You can save money on your winter heating bills by following these tips. Keep your home at 67 degrees or lower. Each degree above this temperature adds 3% to your heating bill.
Allow your house to be cooler when you're not home or at night when you're sleeping. Setting your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours can cut your annual heating bill up to 15%. You should consider only heating unused rooms enough to prevent mold and moisture buildup. Whole-house heating furnaces have different requirements, so check your owner's manual or talk to your local utilities company. Make sure you caulk, seal, and weather-strip all cracks to the outside of your house. Have good insulation: higher R-values are better. Poorly insulated attics allow heat to escape from your home.
Did you know that your refrigerator uses more energy than other appliances in the house? It is recommended that once a year, pull your refrigerator forward and dust off the coils (remember to unplug the appliance first!). You can also help reduce the energy your refrigerator uses by cooling hot foods before placing them inside it. Operate your refrigerator at a temperature between 38 and 42 degrees. If it's time to purchase new appliances, check for the Energy Star label.
Washing machines and clothes dryers are also energy sinkholes. There are techniques to reduce energy usage when doing laundry. Wash clothes in warm or cold water and rinse with cold water. Washing in cold water can reduce energy use by 75%. Adjust the water level to fit your load size. Keep the dryer's lint trap clean. Be sure to sort loads by clothing weight and material type. Consider line-drying your clothes when conditions are suitable. You can also use a wooden rack inside your house.
Don't overlook trees. Deciduous trees will allow sunlight to reach your home in the winter. Trees and shrubs planted near a home can provide a wind block. During the summer, both evergreen and deciduous trees can shade your home, reducing the amount of air conditioning you may need.
Douglas County OSU Extension will be hosting the Climate Masters at HomeTM program, which is a 10-week community program devised to help people reduce their home energy costs and personal carbon footprints. Classes are from 6 to 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday nights from Jan. 5 through March 9 at the United Community Action Network campus, 280 Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg. Registration is due by Dec. 23. The cost is $50 per person or $75 per couple. Courses include Weatherization & Home Energy, Sustainable Living, Renewable Energy Sources, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Transportation, Sustainable Landscaping & Gardening, Food & Low Carbon Cooking, and Green Building. To learn more, contact the office at 672- 4461 or e-mail holly.burton@oregonstate.edu.
Raini Rippy is an extension forester for OSU Extension Service in Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at raini.rippy@oregonstate.edu or at 672-4461.
