Simple Steps Can Whittle Heat Bill

By Wendy Koch

Winter officially began Tuesday, so if you haven’t already done so, now is a fine time to winterize your home.

Even simple, low-cost steps can reduce heating bills. They include changing the furnace filter (monthly in cold weather), using a programmable thermostat, and putting up storm windows (or if none exist, plastic wrap).

The easiest way to combat a cold house may be what former president Jimmy Carter urged during the 1970s energy crisis—putting on a sweater.

Many U.S. households could lower utility bills up to 30% with cost-effective upgrades such as sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and buying more energy-efficient appliances, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

It notes that homes account for 21% of the nation’s energy use and 17% of its greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal tax credits are available until the end of this year to cover up to 30%, or $1,500, of the cost of some upgrades.

President Obama signed a mammoth tax-cut bill Friday that extends these credits through next year but at a generally lower rate of up to 10% of their cost.

“A home owner should get an assessment” or a home energy audit, says David Lee of DOE’s Building Technologies Program. “If one’s serious about improving energy efficiency, that’s the first place they should start.”

Such audits often cost $300 to $500. DOE offers a less precise but free online audit tool. It offers other tips at energysavers.gov.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth in home energy audits,” says Craig Smith, CEO of Colorado-based ServiceMagic, a website connecting consumers with home services.

Start by sealing ducts in attics, garages, or crawlspaces, says Steve Cowell, CEO of Conservation Services Group, based in Westborough, Mass.

Cowell says home owners should then seal air leaks in the attic and basement with caulking or foam. These are less obvious than leaks around windows and doors but typically allow five times as much cold air inside.

A DIY way to detect leaks is to move a lit stick carefully along walls. When smoke wavers, air is sneaking in.

After sealing, Cowell recommends adding insulation, starting with the attic. He lives in a 150-year-old barn in Massachusetts that he insulated himself.

If your furnace is more than 20 years old, experts suggest buying an Energy Star-rated replacement. Here are other tips:

• Use the sun’s heat and light. Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day and close all curtains at night. Consider buying insulated shades and drapes.

• Turn down the temperature on water heaters. Most are set at 140 degrees, but you’ll have plenty of hot water at 115 to 120 degrees. If your water pipes are warm to the touch, insulate them, and, if your water heater is more than 7 years old, consider a “wrap” for the tank.

• Use fireplaces judiciously. Plug and seal the chimney flue of fireplaces never used. Keep the damper closed unless a fire is going and caulk around the fireplace hearth. Consider installing tempered glass doors. When a fire is lit, open dampers, close the room’s doors and lower the thermostat to about 55 degrees.

(c) Copyright 2010 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.