A tough part about sticking to a monthly budget is that things change from month to month. Unexpected expenses come up and monthly bills aren’t always the same. One expense that increases around this time is heating costs. According to the 2010 Buildings Energy Data Book 45% of our energy costs are from space heating and 18% from water heating. U.S. Department of Energy notes that drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Whether you heat your house with electric or gas, your energy bill will inevitably be higher in the winter, but you can set limits to this increase! Here are some other ways to stay in control of your energy bill:
Winterize:
Energy Trust of Oregon is currently offering FREE Energy saver kits! Yes, Free! These kits come with: compact florescent light bulbs, an energy-saving showerhead and faucet aerato and a fridge recycling coupon. Sign up for one on their website today! https://energytrust.org/esaverkits/default.aspx
Community Energy Project also offers free weatherization workshops and kits for income qualifying families. In the workshops participants find out how to implement simple measures to lower home energy use and learn how to install effective weatherization materials in their homes using only basic tools such as scissors and screwdriver. Visit their site for a calendar of upcoming workshops near you! http://www.communityenergyproject.org/calendar.html
The Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program also provides weatherization and energy conservation services at no cost to households below 60 percent of Oregon statewide median income. Primary funding for the program is from the U.S. Department of Energy with other funds from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, utility companies and the Bonneville Power Administration. Visit their website for more info: http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Weatherization_Assistance_Oregon.shtml
Sign Up for Equal Bill Pay:
Many energy providers have acknowledged how difficult it is to budget for fluctuating energy bills. In response to this, they created equal bill pay. Equal bill pay is a way of keeping your energy bills consistent throughout the year. The energy provider looks at your energy use history and takes an average of your bills for all seasons. This average becomes your monthly payment amount. In order to sign up for equal bill pay, your account must be current with no past due. Call you energy provider today to find out if they offer equal bill pay and how to enroll!
Do Simple Things:
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Wear more layers (and slippers too!) at home and turn down your thermostat
- Turn off heaters in unused rooms
- Turn down your thermostat during the night and when you’re not home
- Clean out your gutters to prevent water from building up and freezing
- Seal all cracks and drafts around window and doors in your house
- Plastic your windows (it’s a fun activity to do with kids!)
- If you have a chimney/fire place make sure your damper is closed when you’re not using it
- Unplug appliances and electronics when you don’t need them! The Department of Energy says that 40% of the electricity used for home electronics is used when they’re turned off but still plugged in!
- Replace traditional holiday lights with LEDs and put them on timers. LED holiday lights can save up to 90%of the energy cost of traditional lights.
If you’re in a bind:
Here are some places to look into for emergency energy assistance:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP) is a federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is not an entitlement program. LIEAP is an assistance program designed to help low-income households with home heating costs. 503-986-2000 TTY: 503-986-2100 http://www.oregon.gov/OHCS/SOS_Low_Income_Energy_Assistance_Oregon.shtml
- Multnomah County Energy Assistance Program, 503-988-3663
- Check on the website of the energy provider, often they will have assistance programs as well.
