Yes, you can save money, energy even during Old Man Winter

CenterPoint Energy’s rebate team members share their best checklist for the holidays

CenterPoint Energy’s rebate team members, (l-r) Chekelea, Ruth, Kelly and Fianna, shares a clip-and-save low-cost/no-cost checklist to help readers save energy and money on home heating bills this holiday season.

It seems as if Old Man Winter is back and hit us earlier and with a colder start than last winter. “November 2014 went on the books as the ninth-coldest November recorded,” said Tom Hultquist, National Weather Service Science & Operations Officer.

“Now that it is December, our customers will be impacted by higher winter heating bills due to colder temperatures and wind chills causing us to turn the heat up,” said Kelly Chase, supervisor for energy saving equipment rebates for CenterPoint Energy. “I gathered my rebate team to prepare a checklist to share with our customers this cold holiday season. We hope you enjoy the list and we thank you for being our customers.”

Make the choice to save money on your home energy bill by using this holiday checklist with tips to improve the energy efficiency of your home:

• A furnace is the largest natural gas-consuming appliance and makes up about 70 percent of your natural gas bill. Schedule an annual tune-up by a professional to ensure that your heating system is operating safely and efficiently and to avoid costly and inconvenient repairs. CenterPoint Energy offers a heating system tune-up rebate of $25.

• Lower your thermostat setting to 68 degrees when you are awake and to 58 degrees when you are asleep or away from home. By lowering your thermostat setting 10-15 degrees for eight hours a day, you can save up to 10 percent a year on your heating costs. Installing a programmable thermostat can help you automatically control your heat usage.

• Replace your furnace filter according to manufacturer’s specifications. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can increase the operating cost of your furnace by as much as 10 percent. A good reminder is to change the filter each time you receive your natural gas bill.

• The water heater is the second-largest user of natural gas in your home making up about 15-20 percent of your bill. Set the water heater temperature at 120 degrees, wrap any exposed water heater pipes and install a water heater insulator blanket around the tank. Lowering the temperature from 140 to 120 degrees will prevent scalding and burns on children, and insulating your pipes and water heater can save you up to 15 percent on your water heating costs.

• Make your home more airtight and keep cold air outside. A leaky home can cost up to 40 percent more to heat or cool. Seal leaks around doors, windows and other openings such as pipes or ducts with caulk or weather-stripping.

• The most common places where air escapes in homes are floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents, and electrical outlets. Consider adding insulation and air sealing. CenterPoint Energy offers rebates up to $500 with qualifying residential air sealing and insulation upgrades.

• On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let in the sun’s warmth. Close them at night to insulate against the cold air outside.

• Home Energy Squad, a joint offering by CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy: Technicians conduct an in-home assessment of energy savings opportunities, offer consults regarding findings and install the energy efficient materials of your choice. You can start saving on your energy bill for only a $70 trip charge. We cover the cost of labor and materials — over a $200 value — free. Benefits include installation of such items as programmable thermostats, weather stripping, water heater insulation and more.

• Home Energy Audits, free for some income levels, are designed to educate customers on steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient. A certified energy auditor will compile a report with specific actions to improve your home’s energy efficiency. You will also receive up to $25 in weatherization materials at the time of the energy audit.

• Free low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to help you save water: CenterPoint Energy’s residential customers are eligible to receive up to three free showerheads and three faucet aerators free of charge. Using a single low-flow showerhead and faucet aerator can save the average household over 3,000 gallons of water per year, lowering water heating costs.

• Get rebates for high-efficiency equipment, including high-efficiency natural gas furnaces and boilers, fireplaces with electronic ignition and water heaters. Customers can receive up to $500 when they upgrade or replace their furnace or boiler.

• Low Income Weatherization Program: This program provides free wall and attic insulation and air sealing to help improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes for qualified customers. Some homes may also be eligible for replacement of old, malfunctioning heating equipment with new, high-efficiency natural gas furnaces, boilers or water heaters.

• Switching your worn-out appliances from electric to natural gas appliances is a great gift. Using natural gas appliances such as a furnace, water heater, cooking range and clothes dryer save you money and help protect the environment by emitting less harmful emissions into the air.

• Consider enrolling in CenterPoint Energy’s Budget Plan. By spreading your payments evenly throughout the year, customers can have predictable, levelized payments each month and avoid high winter bill peaks.

Call CenterPoint Energy if you end up having trouble or anticipate difficulty paying your natural gas bill and set up a payment plan at 1-800-729-6164. Learn more about how to save your money from old man winter by requesting a free energy-saving tips “More Comfort, Less Energy” booklet by calling 800-245-2377 or visit our website at CenterPointEnergy.com/SaveEnergy.

This article was provided by CenterPoint Energy.