LCEC issues tips on how to save money on electric bills while it’s cold
While the temperatures are dipping in Southwest Florida, residents are turning on the heat. Here are a few tips from LCEC to help keep electric bills under control during this cold spell:
· Set the thermostat at 68 degrees; each degree higher costs about 5 percent more.
· Check the accuracy of your thermostat with an accurate thermometer. An improperly calibrated one can cause you to use more electricity without knowing it.
· Consider dressing warm in the morning until the sun warms your home naturally.
· Consider using a space heater for warming just the room that you’re in, instead of turning on central heat for the whole house. If you use a space heater, make sure it has built-in safety features such as a tip-over switch, overheat sensor, low surface temperature and protective screen or grill.
· Electric blankets may also be a cost-effective means of staying warm at night. Please use them safely.
· Close your blinds once the sun sets to keep its heat inside, then open your blinds in the morning to allow the sunshine to reheat your home.
· Keep return air filters clean.
· Weather strip or caulk exterior cracks and holes.
· Check your attic insulation to be sure it is R30. It will prevent heat from escaping your home.
For more information, visit www.lcec.net .
Source: LCEC