Energy Savers

How Did You Do?

Over the past several months, we've talked an awful lot, you and we here at the Department of Energy. We've talked about how to make your home energy efficient, how to diagnose your home's problems and how to fix them, what works best and what doesn't (depending on where you live and what kind of home you have).

Time's come to ask: how did you do?

Did you take what we've talked about and apply it to your own home, vehicle, or lifestyle?

It's easy to agree with an idea—to read something on a blog like this or on a Web site or in your paper and think, "Yeah, that's a really good idea." The real test comes in putting it all into practice.

Resolve to Save Energy in the New Year

What are your New Year's Resolutions? It's that time again to make your list and decide how January 1st will be the day you start your new and improved life! [end the infomercial voiceover] In all seriousness, it seems that most New Year's Resolutions are abandoned sometime around mid-February, in spite of our best intentions. But it doesn't have to be that way. I know and you know that your resolutions are important, as shown by USA.gov's list of popular New Year's resolutions.

My guess is that one of the most popular resolutions this year will be to save money. If saving money is one of your resolutions, have you considered working energy into your savings plans? If not, you should! A few simple strategies can help you stay on track to save energy all year long. One great way to set goals that stick is to make them SMART:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely

Here's how you might set SMART goals to save energy:

Improving the Energy Efficiency of Existing Windows

But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

No one would dispute the undeniable beauty of soft, dappled light shining through a window in the early morning. Unless, of course, you happen to be one of the many Americans whose windows are letting in more than just light. Poorly fitted or sealed windows can be a major frustration during the winter months, letting in cold drafts that blur the lines between indoors and out. Unfortunately, this isn't just an issue of comfort. Windows with air leaks pose a real energy efficiency problem as well. Not only does the cold air that seeps into your home through these leaks force your heating system to work that much harder to maintain a stable and comfortable temperature; poorly fitted and sealed windows also make it that much easier for the warm air inside your home to get out.  In fact, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that as much as one third of the average home's heat loss occurs through windows and doors.

Long-term fixes for air leaks typically involve the purchase of replacement windows. However, replacement windows aren't an option for everyone. For some, the cost is prohibitive; and for renters, replacement windows might not even be a possibility. Luckily there are a variety of options for consumers who are looking to improve the energy efficiency of their existing windows. Used individually or in combination, the following tips can help to mitigate heat loss, reduce drafts, and generally make your home a more comfortable place to be this winter: 

Help with Energy Costs for Low-Income Families

There's a certain old question the Weather Man hears;
In the fall of the year it gets into his ears.
And whenever they ask him, when does winter begin?"
He will tell them naively, "When cold weather sets in."
-George Mindling, "An Untitled Poem on Winter"

Part-time poet and full-time weather bureau official George Mindling got it right: cold weather doesn't necessarily follow the schedule we want or expect. I was struck by that very observation just last night when cooler-than-average temperatures in my neck of the woods had me searching in the dark for extra blankets. While today brought a return to more seasonable temperatures, last night's unexpected chill should be a reminder should serve as a reminder to do those necessary weatherization projects—like repairing ducts or servicing furnaces—that will prepare your home for the upcoming change of season.

With the Department of Energy's Information Administration suggesting that the continued high gas prices might force the price of natural gas and heating oil up as temperatures fall, taking steps to ensure that your home is ready for colder weather can mean real savings on your gas and electric bill during the winter months.

Unfortunately for some low-income families, the costs associated with weatherization are out of reach even when these savings are taken into account. It is these families, however, for whom weatherization can have the most impact—not only by improving their home's energy efficiency, but also by helping to stave off sharp increases in utility bills due to home heat loss.