Winter energy saving tips
Winter energy saving tips
Just like during the summertime, a few conscious energy choices can make a big difference in your winter electricity bill. We'll show you easy ways to prepare for dropping temps, so you can stay in control of your usage.
Appliances | Heating and cooling | Lighting | Outdoor | Sealing and insulation | Seasonal | Working from home
Electric heat is heat produced by an appliance (e.g., an HVAC unit) using electricity instead of some other fuel like natural gas.
Electric furnaces are generally more expensive to operate than gas furnaces for two reasons: (1) electric furnaces produce less heat in the same amount of time as gas furnaces and (2) electricity typically costs more than gas in the market. This is why a person with an electric furnace will likely experience more of a jump in costs during the winter than a person with a gas furnace.
Ask yourself the following questions:
If you still aren't sure whether your furnace is gas or electric, ask an HVAC technician.
This is tough to answer because so many variables come into play. Changing the power used to heat your home could be unaffordable or even prohibited in certain communities. If this is something you want to look into further, you should have a professional come to your home to give you guidance specific to your home and neighborhood.
We have several holiday cooking, decorating and general energy tips that can help you save electricity and money.
Try some of the following suggestions:
Portable space heaters can save money in some instances. If your central heating system is electric and your space heater is in good working condition with an accurate thermostat, the space heater could be the cheaper option, provided you turn your central heater down and only use one or two space heaters in very isolated areas for short periods of time.1
However, if your central heating system runs on gas, an electric space heater will not reduce your electric bill. It could potentially reduce your total energy costs (gas and electric) if you use the space heater in only a small area and are sure to turn it off when you are not in the room, but you would have to weigh your gas bill against the cost to run the space heater on electricity.
If you do decide to use a space heater, be sure to buy one that is the appropriate size for the space you want to heat. Invest in a model that includes a timer to avoid leaving it on too long, as space heaters are a fire hazard and can consume more energy than anticipated when left unattended.2
1https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2007/11/q-a-will-using-space-heaters-lower-my-heating-bills/index.htm
2https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/hvac-vs-space-heaters-which-more-efficient
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that chimneys be inspected once per year.3 The Chimney Safety Institute of America adds that you should sweep your chimney once it contains 1/8" of soot—sooner if your fireplace is glazed—to prevent chimney fires.4 Whether you use your chimney or not, debris may be present due to storms, vegetation, animals, birds and general deterioration, so annual maintenance is necessary.
3National Fire Protection Association http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/resources/education-programs/community-tool-kits/keeping-your-community-safe-and-warm
4Chimney Safety Institute of America http://www.csia.org/faq.html
A wood-burning fireplace can save money if used instead of your central HVAC. You don't have to use gas or electric energy at all to burn the wood, and you can heat up very large spaces using the fireplace.5 However, if you have a gas fireplace, you will need to do more research into how much gas the fireplace consumes before making any cost savings calculations.6 A gas fireplace could save you on your electricity bill if your central heater is electric, but if your central heater runs on gas, it could be a wash.
No matter which kind of fireplace you have, keep your fireplace efficient and safe with regular maintenance and sweeping.
5U.S. Department of Energy https://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/cozy-fire-while-saving-money-and-energy
6U.S. Department of Energy https://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/oh-energy-related-stories-i-have-heard
Yes, reducing the temperature of your water heater can help you lower your electricity bill if your water heater is electric. If your water heater is gas, you may still save money, but the savings would be seen on your gas bill, not your electric bill.
Most homes only need the water heater to be set at 120°F, even though the water heater manufacturer may have the water heater set much higher by default.7
7U.S. Department of Energy https://energy.gov/energysaver/projects/savings-project-lower-water-heating-temperature
We recommend a heater tune-up at least once per year, in the fall before winter hits. If you call us to perform your Heater Tune-Up, a licensed professional will perform a 12-point service check on your system and recommend any needed repairs.
If you are having trouble paying for your current bill, call 1-866-RELIANT to talk about payment plans and options available to you. We can help.
For help with future bills, try one of these options:
1 Based on independent studies by Energy Trust of Oregon and Vectren of actual Google Nest thermostat devices. https://nest.com/downloads/press/documents/energy-savings-white-paper.pdf
2 The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save up to 10% on total energy costs (gas and electric) by weatherstripping windows and doors in your home, but your actual savings will depend on how well-sealed your home was in the first place, whether you seal all doors and all windows, and other factors and conditions specific to your home.
3 https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats
4 https://home.howstuffworks.com/question91.htm
6 https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-and-cool/home-heating-systems
7 If there is no previous billing in your name at the service address with Reliant, or you do not have 12 months of usage at the service address, we will take the historical usage at that service address and apply your current price to calculate your Average Monthly Billing amount. The deferred balance amount is the cumulative difference between your Average Monthly Billing amounts and your actual usage charges. The deferred balance amount can be found on your monthly bill. If the deferred balance amount is a credit, 1/12 of it will be subtracted from your Average Monthly Billing amount. If the deferred balance amount is a debit, 1/12 will be added to your Average Monthly Billing amount. If you’re a new Average Monthly Billing customer, the deferred balance will begin in the second month. Any owed deferred balance must be paid in full if you cancel Average Monthly Billing or terminate your account with us.
8 All features of the Home Energy Checkup may not be available to all customers. Some restrictions apply. Limit one consultation per customer each year. Scheduling is based on availability.
9 Projected bill not available for pre-paid plan customers. Must be a Reliant residential customer with a Texas service address and a smart meter.
10 The billing and usage information provided in the Reliant Weekly Summary Email (WSE) is an estimate and includes only your electricity charges and taxes. Your monthly bill provides your official usage as determined by your local electric utility, as well as the total bill amount due. If you are on an indexed plan, you will not see cost information in your WSE, as prices are determined on the last day of each bill cycle. If you change to an incompatible plan or terminate your service with Reliant, you will no longer receive your WSE. Reliant reserves the right to discontinue the WSE without notice. You may also request to cancel your WSE by calling 1-866-872-6644.
11 Customers must have already opted in to receive alerts via text from the Contact Preferences page on the Account Management dashboard. Available only to customers with a smart meter. Message and data rates may apply. For Terms and Conditions, go to reliant.com/etrm.
