Energy-Saving Tips for Homes & Businesses in Central NH

Wondering how you can save money on your heating oil, propane, or utility bills? Heating a home or business in Central New Hampshire can be costly each winter due to extreme temperatures, which is why we like to share as many energy-saving tips and tricks as possible. You can also save energy during the summer and throughout the seasons with additional tips below.

• Book your annual tune-up. Tune-ups help to improve the efficiency of your boiler or furnace by reducing the amount of heating oil or propane you need to stay warm.
• Reduce your thermostat temperature. If your average indoor temperatures is 72°, and you reduce it to 68° eight hours a day, you can save a significant amount of money on your heating bill–1% per degree.
• Insulate your home by ensuring there is weather stripping on all movable joints, such as on windows and doors, and caulking on all non-moving features, such as venting holes. Leaking ductwork contributes on average to more than 25%-30% of your heating costs.
• Reduce your hot water heater temperature to 120°; this will help cut costs without sacrificing readily available hot water.
• Consider upgrading your boiler or furnace to a high-efficiency, ENERGY STAR®-rated model.
• Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to pull air away from the floor, rather than toward it.
• Switch to a programmable thermostat. Some models can help you save up to 15% a year on energy costs.

• Avoid using your stove, oven, or dishwasher during peak heat hours of the day.
• Be sure that when you run your washing machine or dishwasher that they are entirely full.
• Plant shade trees around your home.
• Install ceiling fans. They can allow you to raise your thermostat setting 4° without noticing a reduction in comfort.

• Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot water can help save energy and money. Plus, cold washing is better for the longevity of your clothes.
• If you have a crawl space, inspect it regularly to be sure that the insulation inside is dry. When insulation gets wet, its effectiveness is significantly reduced. Find the source of the moisture and replace any damaged insulation.
• Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator every year. The dirt buildup makes the refrigerator work harder to keep the contents cool and, therefore, uses more energy.
• Make sure your attic is well insulated. Insulation can help you save as much as $600 per year on heating and cooling costs.
• Leave your storm windows on all year long. They provide valuable year-round insulation. Storm windows can create substantial fuel savings.
• Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely; in just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed or cooled air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.