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Dominion offers tips to help save energy costs
Published Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Editor’s Note: This is the second story in a series on how to save on energy costs this winter season.
It’s that time of year: temperatures are changing, thermostats are being adjusted and energy bills reflect the moves.
With every seasonal change, there are things that people need to keep in mind in order to save the most energy and money.
“One of the things I run into is that many of our customers don’t realize they are literally paying to heat and cool the outside of their homes, because they have poor seals in their homes,” said Chuck Penn, media and community relations manager for Dominion Virginia Power. “It’s wasting energy. And it’s not only the energy conservation standpoint, it also translates into paying less in your monthly energy bill.”
In recognition of October being National Energy Awareness Month, Dominion Power released a series of steps for people to take to keep their energy bill lower.
To prepare your house for winter, some important steps you should take include:
4Regularly replacing or cleaning filters of forced air furnaces
4Having your heating system inspected annually by a qualified professional
4Making sure heated air is not lost through loose or faulty connections in the home’s ductwork
“You really need to get rid of these wasteful things that cost you,” Penn said. “It’s using a lot more power than you realize. It’s the commonsense kinds of things that you can do to improve the seals of your home, as well as the things that gobble up a lot of electricity.”
To further help customers work on lowering their energy bills, Dominion Power has put several resources on its Web site for customers to access.
“We encourage our customers to use energy wisely and find ways to remain comfortable while saving money,” said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power, said in a press release. “Dominion’s Web site offers a wide selection of information to help our customers find the projects that are best suited to their particular homes.”
Among the resources, there is a basic energy maintenance checklist that includes having the home’s heating system inspected and repaired before winter, turning off the heat in unoccupied area, checking thermostats for accuracy and sealing window air conditioning units.
Additionally, there are energy-saving tips to remember, including lowering the hot water temperature in the house, activating the computer’s sleep mode and turning off unnecessary lights.
Customers can also visit the Dominion Web site, www.dom.com, and work with energy calculators to see energy costs.
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Posted by batticdoor (anonymous) on October 23, 2009 at 9:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.
These often overlooked sources of energy loss and air leakage can cause heat and AC to pour out and the outside air to rush in -- costing you higher energy bills.
But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer?
To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. Battic Door is the US distributor of the fireplace plug.
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