Energy Savers

End of Summer Check Up: How Did You Do?

Well, the end of summer is in sight. Labor Day is on the horizon, kids are getting ready to go back to school... and the summer energy efficiency tips we've given you are about to be retired for the year. Not all of them, but some apply only to the warm weather months, and so they'll get a rest while we retool for winter.

Speaking of which, look for the Energy Savers seasonal site to undergo a bit of a change in the near future. We're going to switch back to Stay Warm, Save Money (our "winter clothes" as it were), to help you get ready to save money during the cold months.

Question of the Week: What Steps Do You Take to Be Safe and Efficient when Driving in the Winter?

It's extremely cold and snowy in many parts of the country this week! Winter weather conditions can make driving a challenge, and we hope you're staying safe on the road while still keeping efficient driving in mind.

What steps do you take to be safe and efficient when driving in the winter?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

Be a Safe and Efficient Winter Driver

As I write this post, the Midwest and northern states are in the grip of a deep freeze. Temperatures are extremely low, and when wind chill is added in, it's barely possible to set foot outside.

But if you are like me, you still need to get to work. For most of the country, that means driving—at least a little, if not an hour-plus commute each way. So why not make your vehicle efficient? We've been advising you on ways to make the home more energy smart, so let's talk about your car for a moment.

Program Your Thermostat for Automatic Savings

Did you know that you can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15°F for eight hours? Sounds great, but I know when I'm rushing out the door, the last thing on my mind is turning down the thermostat.

Luckily, programmable thermostats make it easy to save without much effort. In fact, once you get the thermostat installed and programmed to your schedule, you can stop thinking about it; your home is programmed to save.

Question of the Week: At What Temperature Do You Set Your Thermostat in the Winter?

Did you know that you can save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home? By turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for 8 hours, you can save about 5%–15% a year on your heating bill—a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.

At what temperature do you set your thermostat when you are home and awake in the winter? How about when you're asleep or away?

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a question about energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

Tips to Save Energy During the Holidays

The winter holiday season has officially begun, and with it comes the frenzy of decorating, holiday gatherings, gift buying, and errand running. Don't let your energy-saving efforts fall by the wayside amid all the festivities; the tips below will help you save energy and money even as you celebrate.

A Ghoulish End to Energy Awareness Month

Happy Halloween! As many of you celebrate ghosts and ghouls and other creepiness today, we Energy Savers bloggers are marking the end of Energy Awareness Month.

We hope October's entries on saving energy in the winter have been useful and provided some food (Halloween candy?) for thought as the weather gets colder and you prepare to save energy and money.

But don't worry if you're still working on your winter energy saving plan; we still have more winter topics to cover and you still have time before winter officially starts. Be sure to visit the Stay Warm, Save Money site at EnergySavers.gov for more winter energy saving tips.

We will continue to blog regularly here about energy topics of interest to consumers; starting next week, you can expect to see 1-2 blog posts per week. So stick with us—don't stop increasing your energy awareness just because Energy Awareness Month is over!

Energy Tax Credits: Stay Warm and Save MORE Money!

With all of the news this month about the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, you may have heard about the energy tax incentives that were included for both consumers and for business, utilities, and governments.

If you are already preparing for winter and working to make your home more efficient, this is good news. The federal tax credits can help you save energy, stay warm, and save money this winter and beyond. Combined with other sources of financial help that we've already discussed on this blog, you may be able to save significantly on your improvements.

Winter Warmth Tips for Senior Citizens

O, wind, if winter comes,
can spring be far behind?
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, Poet

A cooling draft of air across your cheek can be a pleasant experience on a warm day in August, but that same cooling draft is less enjoyable when experienced inside your home during winter months. Our rural home was built 40 years ago, and like many old homes has its share of old inefficient windows. Old Man Winter sneaks through those windows on windy days, so when Mom comes to visit in the winter, she invariably heads straight for the warmth of the comfy recliner next to our propane fireplace. Nor is she alone.

Seniors can be especially susceptible to even moderately colder temperatures even while indoors. To help reduce the potential for hypothermia (PDF 919 KB, Download Adobe Reader), the National Institutes of Health recommends that seniors set their thermostats for at least 68 to 70 degrees in the winter. For seniors on fixed incomes, however, the energy costs associated with maintaining a home at this temperature may be unrealistic. Low-income seniors may benefit from the Weatherization Assistance Program or the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Too, many of the weatherization tips discussed this month as part of the Energy Savers Blog would be worth considering for seniors.

Additionally there are a wide range of no-cost or low-cost strategies that can increase a senior's comfort in the home and supplement other heating measures:

Chimneys: Keep 'em Clean… and Closed

Growing up in Wisconsin and New Jersey, my family homes always had a fireplace.  They were perfect for cold winter nights, for "indoors camping" or just for sitting near and watching TV. There's very little like the crackle and heat of an open fire.

That said, while your fireplace may be decorative, enjoyable, even functional, it's also one other thing: a great big hole going to the outdoors.

Many families have glass doors across their fireplaces. That's a good start, but there's something else you should remember to do, and that is keep the chimney closed. It's more than just a good idea; hot air rises, after all, and the money you spend heating your home could literally be going up the chute. You don't want Santa's doorway being a money-Grinch, do you?

Here's what you do. Clean out your chimney early. Burning wood leaves deposits of soot and creosote in the chimney flue; these deposits, accumulating over time, can catch and result in a household fire. For safety, a chimney should be inspected and even cleaned annually.

Once you do that, keep the flue lever turned so that the chimney is closed when it is not in use. A glass door may help prevent some heated air escaping, but it can't do the job by itself.

So enjoy your fireplace as we head into the winter months, but be safe and efficient while you do. You can find other no-cost and low-cost tips to save money this winter (and keep your fireplace efficient) at EnergySavers.gov.

Drew Bittner is a former Presidential Management Intern (PMI) and the Web content manager for EERE's corporate Web pages.