Cold Weather Tips Help Save Energy

2010-01-05

Jacksonville, FL - North Florida is experiencing a long duration of cold weather. It is important to remember these cold weather tips as there is a direct correlation between weather and energy consumption. Taking the time to follow a few of the tips below can save you money on your energy bill.

Save energy by setting your thermostat at 68 degrees – set it even lower at night or when you’re not at home.

• You’ll save up to 22% on your heating costs compared to a setting of 72 degrees.
• If you feel a chill, dress in layers

Don’t run ceiling fans when your heat is on. While some people think this saves energy by re-circulating warm air that has risen, it actually uses more energy than it saves.

Avoid drafts – check your windows and doors to see if they’re airtight. Use rolled towels or blankets to block gaps in doors or leaks in window.

Wrap pipes - Prepare for a freeze by wrapping exposed pipes. A few layers of newspaper covered with another layer of plastic works well. You can use old socks and duct tape on outside faucets. Or insulate with a foam jacket.

• Protect shallow buried pipes with a sheet of polystyrene form to insulate them.
• Never place new heat tape over old. Remove old tape from pipe before wrapping with new tape.

Drip faucets - Allow faucets to drip to ward off freezing.

Insulate against heat loss - Insulate and weather-strip your home to prevent heat loss and keep cold air out.

• Weather-strip around doors and windows.
• Seal cracks or crevices where two different building materials meet.
• It's also a good idea to weather-strip between heated and unheated areas such as garages, basements and attic openings

Space heater safety - Space heaters use less electricity than your heat pump however only if you turn down the thermostat and only have the space heater on when you are in the room. Note: Space heaters can greatly reduce your heating bill but are dangerous if you do not properly operate and maintain them according to the manufacturer’s instruction, so please use due care.

• Never leave a space heater unattended
• Never leave a space heater on overnight
• Never place a space heater close to flammable items

Reminder - Air filters
Change air filters every month. Dirty filters can increase operating costs.

Record temperatures
Record peak – 3166 megawatts, January 24, 2003 at 7:04 a.m.

JEA has the capacity to generate about 3,200 megawatts through its power plants and through power purchase agreements with other utilities.

JEA is the eighth largest community-owned electric utility in the United States, providing electric, water and sewer service to more than 875,000 accounts in northeast Florida.

Category:

• conservation
• customer
• education
• electric
• ways to save