Ameren Illinois Utilities Offer Easy Ways for Consumers to Reduce Energy Bills
December 13 2007 - 12:55PM
PR Newswire (US)
PEORIA, SPRINGFIELD and DECATUR, Ill., Dec. 13
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Everyone wants to save money on their
energy bills, but some people may hesitate to take action because
they may believe conservation steps are difficult, costly to
implement or cause discomfort. In reality, the experts point out
consumers can easily conserve energy this winter without
sacrificing comfort or spending much money. The Ameren Illinois
utilities suggest the place to begin is the home's heating system.
Furnaces should be checked annually by a heating professional, who
will make certain the unit is operating efficiently and safely. In
addition, furnace filters should be changed regularly, usually once
a month. Other energy saving tips include: -- Check the home to
find the places where cold air is entering. On a windy day, an
adult should hold a lighted incense stick next to windows, doors,
electrical outlets and other locations where outside air can enter.
Air leaks are found when the incense smoke moves horizontally. Most
leaks can be sealed with an inexpensive tube of silicone caulk.
Weather stripping should be used for doors. Metal weather stripping
with a vinyl backing is recommended for its durability and
flexibility. To reduce air infiltration through outside wall
electric outlets, install thin foam gaskets. A well sealed home not
only reduces energy bills, but is more comfortable. -- Consider
setting the thermostat a little lower during the winter. For each
degree it is lowered, a consumer can save 2 to 3 percent on heating
costs. Some consumers maximize savings by setting the thermostat at
a lower setting when they are sleeping or away from home. Many find
that programmable thermostats help reduce heating costs by allowing
better control of the settings. -- Adding some humidity to a home
will increase comfort. Inexpensive humidifiers can be purchased a
hardware and home improvement stores. An economical way to add
humidity is to leave bathroom doors open after showering and leave
exhaust fans off when boiling liquids in the kitchen. -- Take
advantage of free energy from the sun. On bright days, open blinds,
shades or draperies on the sunny side of the house to let in solar
heat. Close them at night to help keep heat from escaping. -- Use
circulating fans - especially ceiling fans - to circulate warm air
and keep it from gathering near the ceiling. It is suggested that
ceiling fans be set to run counterclockwise during the heating
season. -- Consider closing off areas of a home that are
infrequently used. Close registers in those areas. -- In homes with
fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, make sure the unit's damper is
completely closed when not in use to prevent costly heat loss. --
Set the water heater temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or on
"low." Using this setting can reduce annual energy costs by 3 to 5
percent. When away from home for an extended period of time, select
the "vacation" setting if the unit is so equipped. Reduce hot water
usage by using cold or warm water in the washing machine, a step
that saves money and extends the life of clothes. Get more life out
of the water heater and reduce energy costs by periodically
draining the tank to eliminate the buildup of sediment. -- Turn off
incandescent lights when leaving a room. Turn off fluorescent
lights when leaving a room for 15 minutes or longer. -- Turn off
televisions, computers, printers and other equipment when not in
use. Unplug cell phone chargers once the phone is recharged. For
more energy saving tips, visit the Ameren Web site
(http://www.ameren.com/), select "My Home" and then "Energy Savings
Tips." The Ameren Illinois utilities serve 1.2 million electric and
more than 840,000 natural gas customers in a 43,700-square-mile
area of Illinois. DATASOURCE: Ameren Illinois Utilities CONTACT:
Leigh Morris, +1-217-535-5228, or Erica Abbett, +1-618-236-4329, or
Natalie Hemmer, +1-217-424-7541, or Neal Johnson, +1-309-677-5284,
all for Ameren Illinois Utilities Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
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