If you're up here in the northland winter is approaching all too quickly and natural gas is going to be AT LEAST 50% more this winter, so . . .here are some tips on conseving natural gas. Stolen (w/ slight modications) from Georgianaturalgas.com: Some of these are about electricity, but some of our electricity comes from natural gas too. (Time to be thankful that quite a bit also comes from coal and nuclear energy.)
Heating and Cooling
Set your thermostat at 65°-68° F during the winter while you’re home during the day, and lower it at night or while you’re away to 55°-58° F.
Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature when you’re not at home. You could see up to 15 percent in annual savings by programming your thermostat five degrees lower for eight hours per day during the winter. These are pretty easy to install and pretty cheap at places like Menards.
Use a humidifier in colder months. When air is moist, you’ll feel warmer and you can keep your thermostat lower.
Check your furnace filter frequently, and replace or clean it once a month or as needed. A dirty filter can drive up the cost of heating your home.
Open draperies to let in the sun’s warmth during the day; close draperies to slow the loss of heat through the glass at night.
Rearrange furniture or shorten draperies so heating registers and air returns aren’t blocked.
Appliance Tips
Lower the temperature setting on your washing machine. Most of the energy your washing machine uses is for heating water. Wash your laundry with warm or cold water rather than hot; then rinse in cold water only and save at least 50 percent on your washer’s energy costs.
Run only full loads in your dishwasher. Avoid the rinse-and-hold cycle and save the seven to 10 gallons of water that pre-rinsing requires.
Reduce the demand on your water heater by taking shorter showers. Install water-saving, low-flow shower heads and set your water to less than full force.
Turn your water heater thermostat to no more than 140° F. You can also install in water heater programmable thermostat and/or cover your water heater with a thermal blanket.
Repair any dripping faucets.
Make low-cost “storm windows” by placing plastic over windows.
Keep your freezer and refrigerator as full as possible.
Position your refrigerator and freezer away from your cooking range, when possible.
Wash clothes in cold water. Most of today’s laundry detergents work effectively in cold water.
Clean the lint from your dryer after each use.
Set your dishwasher on the low-temperature setting unless your dishes are very dirty.
Use the “energy saver” switch on your dishwasher to shut off the drying element. That greatly reduces the energy used.
Preheat your oven only if a recipe calls for it.
Use microwaves, toaster ovens, and slow cookers to save energy costs.
Consider replacing any gas appliances that are more than 10 years old with more energy-efficient models.
Insulation and Weather Stripping Tips
Weatherize your home. Use caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows to seal cracks and leaks. Hold a feather or a burning incense stick in front of a window. If the feather or smoke moves away from the window, you have a leak and should weatherize. See your local home improvement retailer for classes and easy how-to tips.
Check the insulation level in your attic. Proper insulation can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 30 percent.
