JEA Provides Tips to Save Energy, Reduce Costs During Cold Weather

2024-11-20

Jacksonville, FL - Northeast Florida is about to get a taste of colder weather starting Thursday morning. With that in mind, JEA is providing tips for customers to conserve energy during the cold snap. 

Weather can affect electricity use, and that will affect customers’ utility bills. JEA continues to have the lowest average monthly residential utility bills among major metro areas in Florida, but customers can minimize the amount they use and save money with the following tips: 

• Save energy by setting your thermostat to 68 degrees. Set it even lower at night or when you’re not at home. You’ll save up to 22 percent on heating costs compared to a setting of 72 degrees. 
• Avoid raising your thermostat more than one degree at a time to prevent heat strips from being activated. 
• If you feel a chill inside your home, dress in layers or put on a sweater. 
• To avoid drafts, check windows and doors to ensure they’re airtight. Use rolled towels or blankets to block gaps in doors or leaks in window. 
• 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. Be sure to follow safety precautions if using a space heater. They can greatly reduce your heating bill but are dangerous if you do not properly operate and maintain them according to the manufacturer’s instructions, 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. 

To prepare your home as we approach winter months, consider an HVAC tune-up. Annual, pre-season maintenance is necessary to ensure that your home is heated and cooled at optimum efficiency.  

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. 
  
  

For additional tips to prepare your home for winter and other seasonal ways to save during the holidays, visit jea.com/winter.

And to learn about more ways to conserve and save money, JEA provides free energy and irrigation assessments. Customers can call 904-665-6000 to schedule an appointment. 

About JEA

JEA is a municipal utility providing safe, reliable and affordable services to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors and does not earn a profit. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to meet the electricity and water needs of those who live in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. JEA’s 2,200-plus workforce is dedicated to meeting customer needs, both today and for generations to come, while protecting our precious natural resources and supporting our region’s growth and economic development. Learn more at jea.com.

Media Contact

Karen McAllister
media@jea.com | 904-665-5500

Category:

• conservation
• customer
• education
• water