Fall into Cooler Temperatures with Energy Efficiency

Pumpkin spice lattes, football and foliage. Fall is officially here and with all the fun things that come with the season, why not make energy efficiency part of it? Getting your home prepped for colder temperatures can help you stay comfortable while saving energy and money.

Follow these tips to keep the cool air where it’s supposed to be – outside:

Have your HVAC system serviced. Schedule a system check-up to ensure your heating system is working properly before you need to rely on it consistently.
Check your home’s insulation. Proper insulation helps you stay comfortable and improve energy efficiency during the colder months by keeping warm air inside your home. Learn what to consider when addressing home insulation.
Caulk and weatherstrip air leaks. Air leaks can account for up to 40% of your home’s heating and cooling energy use. Fixing them is an easy way to reduce heating and cooling costs and improve comfort. View tips on how to get started.
Change furnace filters. Filters should be changed at least every three months. A dirty filter can make your furnace work harder than necessary, wasting energy in the process.
Utilize curtains and blinds. Open curtains, drapes and blinds during the day when the sun is shining to take advantage of natural warmth. Close them when the sun goes down to keep the warmth in.
Move furniture away from vents. Blocking airflow from vents makes your HVAC system work harder to properly heat your home.
Clean registers, baseboard heaters and radiators. These should be cleaned on a regular basis to help improve your HVAC system’s efficiency. Removing excess dirt and dust will also help keep allergens and other debris out of your home.
Close your fireplace damper. Keep warm air inside your home and cold air out when you’re not using the fireplace.
Rotate ceiling fans clockwise. Adjusting ceiling fans to rotate at a low speed in the clockwise direction forces warm air near the ceiling down, making your space feel warmer.
Close your garage door. Keep the overhead door of an attached garage closed to block cold winds from infiltrating the connecting door between the house and garage.
Turn off space heaters and lights in unused rooms. Turning off these items in unoccupied rooms will prevent unnecessary electricity use. Leaving a space heater unattended is also a serious fire hazard.

For more tips and resources to save energy and money year-round, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/saveenergy.

CONTACT: Brooke Conlan, 330-807-7564