Cooler weather is coming, and you know what that means-higher heating and energy costs. While the
temperatures may drop; the energy experts at Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide program for
energy-efficiency and renewable energy, offer the following tips to help increase comfort, reduce
energy consumption, and save money in your home or business.
Residential Tips
New Year's Energy Resolutions
This New Year's, skip the cliché resolutions and put your home on an energy diet instead. Focus on Energy is
sharing six simple tips that will help save you money on energy bills, make your home more comfortable, and
give you peace of mind knowing you are helping the environment. Trust us; this will be much less painful than
skipping your favorite dessert all year long!
In heating mode, lower your thermostat by
1 degree Fahrenheit for 8 hours (such as when you are asleep or away) to save about 1 percent on your heating
bill. In cooling mode, each degree you set your thermostat above 75 degrees will save you about 3 percent.
For convenience, install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature depending on
the time of day and day of week, saving you more than $100 a year.
Some appliances and electronics use power even when
turned off-such as TVs, DVD players, stereos, video game consoles, coffee makers, and more. This can account
for up to 15 percent of home energy use, so unplug these devices when not in use to save energy and money on
your electricity bill.
Hidden openings such as cracks, gaps, and holes in the building's envelope let cold air into
your home in the winter and out of your home in the summer. These air leaks often add up to the equivalent of
an open window and can waste a lot of energy and money. Seal these openings to avoid wasted energy and to keep
heat and moisture out of the attic.
Proper insulation is a cost-effective way to save energy all year round. Insulation
keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer by slowing heat transfer. It also helps suppress noise and
prevent water pipes from freezing. To find out if your home is property insulation, call Focus on Energy and
ask about a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR evaluation-which brings us to our final tip!
A Home Performance with ENERGY STAR evaluation can help you find hidden problems
in your home, such as drafts and moisture. The evaluation includes a comprehensive inspection of all of your
home's systems to reveal how your home is using, or possibly misusing, energy. Following the evaluation, you
will receive a report identifying problems and recommending solutions to help reduce your energy costs and
improve your comfort.
For more helpful tips about how to save energy at home, call Focus on Energy at 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.
And because you are a WPS customer, you may be eligible for exclusive programs designed to improve the energy
efficiency of your home. WPS has allocated additional funds to Focus on Energy in order to provide its customers
with these exclusive offerings. Visit focusonenergy.com/wps to learn more.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® evaluation -
This is one of the best and most comprehensive ways to save energy at home. A partnering consultant
will identify hidden problems in your home and recommend money-saving ways to make your home more
energy-efficient. Plus they will tell you about Cash-Back Rewards you may qualify for!
Business Tips
With cold weather on its way now is a great time for organizations to make sure they are well
positioned to keep energy costs in check and save money this season, and year round. In fact,
Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy,
has already helped Wisconsin businesses save more than $212 million in annual energy costs
since 2001.
One cost-effective way to keep tabs on energy costs is to establish an energy team within your organization.
Visit focusonenergy.com/energyteam for a free toolkit
to help create a team and start implementing high-ROI, low-risk projects.
Businesses can save 1 percent on heating costs for each degree they lower the thermostat. Instead of
adjusting the thermostat manually, make sure to install a system that will automatically manage your
building's temperature. Already have a system in place? Program it to achieve maximum savings, and
don't forget to adjust it with the shift from Daylight Saving Time, if necessary.
Consider upgrading with spray-foam or batt insulation. Additional insulation can be blown into
walls, and there are options for insulating flat roofs, crawl spaces, and floors.
Facilities can reduce the energy use of heating and cooling systems by up to 6 percent simply by having
them serviced regularly and changing air filters monthly. Don't forget to keep the space around your system
clean and clear to prevent debris from being pulled into the burners and filters.
When it comes time to replace equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR® label-your assurance of quality and energy
efficiency. For lighting, install compact-fluorescent bulbs for task lighting and high-performance T8 or
pulse-start metal-halide systems for larger or high-bay applications. Lighting-control systems such as occupancy
sensors and daylight sensors can help save even more.
Got questions? Want to learn more about energy efficiency or renewable energy? Ask the team with energy in its name, Focus on Energy.
For more energy saving ideas, please call Focus on Energy at 800.762.7077.
Renewable energy
Many Wisconsin residents and businesses are taking energy efficiency to the next level by harvesting
power from renewable energy resources - sun, wind and biomass. Focus on Energy offers technical
assistance and financial incentives to help you identify and install the renewable energy systems
that make sense for you.
For more energy saving ideas, please call Focus on Energy at 800.762.7077.
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Got questions? Want to learn more about energy efficiency or renewable energy? Ask the team with energy in its name, Focus on Energy.
