Winter energy-saving tips
As temperatures fall, these simple habits can help give your heater a break and keep your energy usage in check.
Save energy while staying warm
The biggest impact to your electricity or natural gas usage is your home's heating system, so reducing the amount of time your heater spends running will help you the most when it comes to saving energy. Follow these quick tips to reduce energy consumption and still keep warm.
- Check your thermostat settings. Try turning down your thermostat temperature as much as possible. You can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by turning your thermostat down 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day
- Bundle up. Reach for a sweater or blanket before reaching for the thermostat. Weather-appropriate clothes can help you keep your heater at a lower setting and stay comfortable.
- Let the sun in. Open blinds and shades during the day and remove any solar screens so the sun can warm your home.
- Keep your HVAC fan at “auto.” Set your HVAC to “auto.” Your system will run 24/7 if it’s set to “on,” which will increase your bill.
- Set your thermostat lower when you’re away. Set your thermostat to 50 degrees when you’re away. This is warm enough to prevent your pipes from freezing without wasting energy on an empty home. If you have pets, remember to take their safety and comfort into consideration.
- Use an electric blanket instead of turning on the heater.
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees. This is hot enough to be sanitary while saving you up to $60 a year on your water heating bill.
Energy-efficient winter preparation tips
In addition to daily habits, you can perform some basic home maintenance tasks that will help you stay warm and increase your home's energy efficiency. These tips will help your home heater and water heater work more efficiently and make sure your home and energy plan are working for you this winter.
- Seal doors and windows. You can save up to 10% on total energy costs by replacing the weather stripping around exterior door frames and windows.
- Get an annual heater tune-up. Make sure your furnace or heat pump is clean and in good working order so it can run efficiently.
- Check your water heater. Check the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it's working properly. Older water heaters, or those with an R-value of less than 24, may benefit from a water heater jacket to prevent them from losing heat.
- Install an electric water heater timer to prevent your water heater from running when you don't need it.
- Know your energy plan. Electricity and natural gas prices tend to increase in winter months because the demand for heating is higher, which most affects customers on a variable-rate energy plan. If you're on a variable-price plan, consider locking in a fixed-price option to stabilize your energy costs. If you're already an NRG customer, log in to your online account to view your plan details and make sure it's meeting your needs. Not an NRG customer? View our offers.
- Get a Google Nest programmable thermostat for up to 12% savings on heating costs. Smart thermostats can automatically set the temperature lower when you're at work or during other times when you don't need as much heat. If you're an NRG customer, you can even control your Nest thermostat from your My NRG app.
- Have a backup. Additional power sources can keep your home powered in case of a power outage.
- Consider solar energy. Solar energy is becoming more accessible for both homeowners and renters. If you own your home, rooftop solar can be a great option to save on electricity costs. Depending on your state, you could even get tax credits for installing solar panels. If you rent your home, look into contributing to local community solar programs for an opportunity to save on your bill.
Managing higher winter energy costs
Your energy bills can be higher in the winter for several reasons, including increased heater usage – especially considering heating and cooling costs account for about 42% of your energy bill! Here are some other factors that can lead to higher energy bills in the winter.
- Longer billing cycles. Billing cycles start and end when your local utility reads your meter, which is typically every 28 to 30 days. During the holidays, an additional one to three days may pass before your meter is read, creating longer billing cycles in December and January. Those extra days mean more usage is recorded for that period.
- Electric vs. natural gas heating. Many people with gas-powered furnaces enjoy lower electricity bills in the winter. But if you have an electric furnace, the colder season can be tough on your wallet. Electric furnaces are generally more expensive to operate than gas furnaces because electric furnaces produce less heat than gas furnaces in the same amount of time, and electricity typically costs more than natural gas. If you're not sure whether you have an electric or gas heater, check for a small window with a flame inside. Natural gas heaters use a flame to heat the coils to warm the air.
- Adjusting your thermostat. Cranking your thermostat up 10 degrees on a cold winter's night won't make your house warm up any faster. It just makes the heater run longer to reach this higher temperature, costing more energy and wearing your heater out faster.
