Published: January 09, 2006 10:53 am         

Simple Ways to Conserve Fuel

No matter where you go these days, it seems everyone is talking about it. Coffee shops, grocery stores, talk radio ... nowhere seems safe from conversations about the rising cost of fuel across America. While the topic on the tip of everyone's tongue is primarily about prices at the pump, rising fuel costs are also hitting you at home, where conserving energy is no longer just an altruistic endeavor but a financial necessity as well. With that in mind, here are some helpful fuel conservation hints for those of you facing the unenviable task of paying a winter's worth of heating bills. · Turn down the thermostats whenever you know you'll be out of the house for a while. Whether you're heading to an evening movie or leaving for work in the morning, lowering the temperature on your thermostat while you're out is a great way to shave a few extra dollars off your bill. If you're going away for a weekend, you can turn your thermostat to as low as 55 F without having to worry about your pipes freezing while you're away. · Turn the thermostat down when you go to sleep at night. Oftentimes, sleeping in a house that is too hot is uncomfortable anyway, so lowering your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees can lead to a more comfortable night's sleep. Plus, you'll save around 10 percent on your monthly bill. · Purchase a programmable setback thermostat. Programmable setback thermostats can be automatically set to turn up the heat before you wake up in the morning and turn it down before you go to sleep. This will give you some backup in case, like most of us, you forget to adjust the thermostat yourself on a regular basis. · Throw a party. If ever there was an excuse to have some friends over, lowering your monthly heating bill is as good as any. The more friends, the merrier as well, as the more people in a room will lead to more warmth in the air. · Utilize a humidifier. Increasing the humidity in your home will make you feel warmer (allowing you to lower the temperature of your thermostat) while providing a few health benefits as well, namely reducing your risk of catching a cold and keeping your skin from drying out or cracking. · Keep your furnace clean. Having your oil furnace professionally cleaned once a year before the start of winter will allow the furnace to burn oil far more efficiently. On the same token, for a forced-air system, make sure vents are cleaned and that filters are new and free of debris. · Install storm windows. By installing storm windows, you are making it substantially more difficult for warm air to escape and cold air to get into your house. If you cannot afford new windows, use specialty plastic and tape sold at home centers to seal out drafts during the coldest months. While not the most attractive option, it certainly will help to keep your home warmer.