Entergy wants to remind consumers they have the power to save money and stay comfortable by following a few simple steps to help keep winter’s cold outside where it belongs while also helping keep energy costs more manageable.
Although there are lots of things homeowners can do to protect themselves against cold weather, here are the top five energy savers:
-- Adjust the thermostat. During winter months, set the thermostat to 68 degrees. Every degree higher can add three percent to your energy bill.
-- Conserve hot water. Wrap your electric water heater with a water heater blanket and set the thermostat to 120 degrees or medium. Insulate pipes running to and from the heater and check for leaky faucets.
-- Replace air and furnace filters every 30 days. Air conditioning and heating remain the top energy cost for a home, so keeping them in good condition makes sense.
-- Use energy-efficient bulbs when replacing light bulbs. Entergy recommends ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 70 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
-- Properly air seal and insulate your attic and any location where there may be a path from the inside of your home to the outside. That includes places you may not think of – such as attic hatchways, electrical outlets and switches.
For additional energy-related topics, visit www.entergyarkansas.com/savemoney .
