If you take steps to winterize your home, you and the environment come out ahead

With heating fuel prices generally lower than last year’s levels, many
homeowners this winter could be in for a pleasant surprise when they open their
monthly bills. Those who take steps to improve energy efficiency might even
start to recover some of the extra cash they spent keeping warm over the last
few years.

The easiest way to reduce energy consumption in your home is to simply lower
your thermostat in the winter. The optimal setting for homeowners is between 66
and 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, according to Energy Star, a joint
program of the EPA and the Department of Energy.

A few other ways to save include making sure your fireplace damper is closed
when not in use, closing vents in unused rooms and turning the switch on ceiling
fans (if you’ve got them) to "reverse" to help push warm air down from the
ceiling. If you’ve got a fireplace with a wire mesh screen, consider replacing
the screen with glass doors, which are better at preventing heat loss.

In the end, if you take steps to winterize your home, you and the environment
come out ahead. Lower energy use, of course, translates into lower utility
bills, less air pollution from power plants and a stronger economy.

Click to read the entire "Winterizing Your Home" article By Shelly K. Schwartz • Bankrate.com

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