The Holiday season is upon us and it will only keep getting colder in the upcoming months. If you are not following the right steps to conserve energy, what you didn’t know about energy efficiency could be hurting your pocketbook. Do you close all your vents to save energy? That is just one of the common misconceptions about energy usage. According to the EIA ( U.S. Energy Information Administration) it is projected that the average household heating expenditures for natural gas, propane, and heating oil will increase by 3 percent, 7 percent, and 8 percent respectively this winter just in comparison with last winter. This is due mainly in part to the higher prices for natural gas, propane, and heating oil. While you can’t help that you can correct some of your misconceptions when it comes to energy use, to help keep your bill lower.

• Myth #1: Closing the Vent Saves Energy: This is untrue because the energy consumed by the system is at the unit itself, and restricts the air at the vent and redirects it to other locations or through leaks you might have in your duct system. Closing vents also puts backpressure
  on the fan that pushes the air through the system, causing it to work harder, use more energy and wear out faster.
• Myth #2: New Windows= Significant Energy Cost Savings: It is true that replacing single-panel windows for Energy-Star rated dual-panel windows will save energy. The catch is that energy saving is a function of the size and number of windows in your home, their orientation and overhangs, and the location of your house and the climate zone you live in. Generally that amounts to a small fraction of total energy used, and given how much the windows cost to replace it is not the most cost-effective way to reduce your energy bill.
• Myth #3: Setting the Thermostat Higher Heats a Home Faster: Setting the thermostat higher does have the potential to increase the run-time of the heating system, using more energy and potentially making your home uncomfortably hot.
• Myth #4: Electricity cost between four and ten times the amount of natural gas. So running just two electric space heaters can cost the equivalent of heating an entire home with a gas-powered system.
• Myth #5: Leaving a Light on Uses Less Energy Than Turning It Off, Then on Again: Believe it or not, some people do believe that leaving the light on as opposed to turning it off and on uses less energy. This is false, there is no significant additional power drawn when turning on a
  light bulb. So, turn off the lights each time you leave a room, even if it is just for a few minutes.

If you are looking to save money this holiday season, these are a few simple fixes that may help put some money back in your pocketbook. To learn more energy saving tips visit us at Connect Your Home or call (888)566-3979.