Karen Ryan, of Lee County Electrical Cooperative, has passed on some good ideas about saving energy costs during our cold spell:
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 five 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 .
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