Home Owners and Residents
Be an Advocate! Join us in advocating for stronger energy efficiency initiatives for West Virginia residents.
Learn more about Energy Efficiency Resource Standards here. Let your County Commissioners, Mayors, Senators, Delegates and Governor know that you support an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard. Please contact us for more information about how your voice can be heard.
Did you Know? Appalachian Power offers a free home energy walk-through assessment to residents with Appalachian Power as their utility company. For a free Home Performance Energy Assessment visit takechargewv.com.
Did you Know? Appalachian Power offers a free home energy walk-through assessment to residents with Appalachian Power as their utility company. For a free Home Performance Energy Assessment visit takechargewv.com.
Wanting to Go Solar? Check out this article to get an idea of things you should consider but don't wait! 30% rebates end December 2016... Home Solar Panels: Pros, Cons, and Hidden Costs
Energy Saving Tips for the Fall and Winter
Strategies to help you save energy during the cool fall and cold winter months. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.
If you haven't already, conduct an energy assessment to find out where you can save the most, and consider making a larger investment for long-term energy savings.
Also check out no-cost and low-cost tips to save energy during the spring and summer.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HEAT FROM THE SUN
Strategies to help you save energy during the cool fall and cold winter months. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.
If you haven't already, conduct an energy assessment to find out where you can save the most, and consider making a larger investment for long-term energy savings.
Also check out no-cost and low-cost tips to save energy during the spring and summer.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HEAT FROM THE SUN
- Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
- Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
- Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.
- When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
- When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostatcan make it easy to set back your temperature.
Find out how to operate your thermostat for maximum energy savings. Also see ENERGY STAR's June 5, 2008, podcast for video instructions on operating your programmable thermostat.
- Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
Find out how to detect air leaks.
Learn more about air sealing new and existing homes. - Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
Find out how to select and apply the appropriate caulk.
Learn how to select and apply weatherstripping.
- Schedule service for your heating system.
Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently. - Furnaces: Replace your furnace filter once a month or as needed.
Find out more about maintaining your furnace or boiler. - Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.
Find other maintenance recommendations for wood- and pellet-burning appliances.
- Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
- When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly -- approximately 1 inch -- and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
- If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
- If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
- Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
- Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
- Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency.
Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.
Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
Find other strategies for energy-efficient water heating.
- Use light-emitting diode -- or "LED" -- holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating your home for the winter holidays.
Learn about the advantages and potential cost savings of LED holiday light strings.
Find manufacturers and brands of ENERGY STAR®-qualified decorative light strings.
Other Resources
U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Savers Program
- Energy Savers website - How to save energy at home, work, in your vehicle, and more!
- Energy Savers Guide: Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home - a great document with in depth details for simple ways to save money and energy at home.
- Tax credits for Energy Efficiency - You can get tax credits for making energy efficient purchases - see if any of them apply to your energy efficiency upgrades!
- Energy Efficient Mortgages & Financing - Advice and resources for how to pay for your energy efficiency upgrades.
- Department of Energy "Homes" Website - The precursor to the Energy Savers website.
- U.S. Department of Energy Website - more information on tax incentives, how to save energy at home, etc.
- Do-it Yourself Home Energy Audits - How to do a home energy audit on your own and find ways to save money
Residential Energy Services Network
- General Website - Learn more about how to make your home energy efficient, how to find a qualified contractor in your area, what different energy efficiency ratings and programs mean, etc.
- Energy Saving Tips - Tips to save energy and money at home, in your car, etc.
- FAQs - What is a Home Energy Rating? - Learn more about the HERS Rating, how it can help you, etc.
Energy Star Program
- Energy Star Kids Website - explains energy efficiency to a younger audience and give kids ideas for how to make a difference.
Money Saving Tips
- Manufactured Homes: Saving Money by Saving Energy - This booklet from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development gives recommendations to mobile homeowners for improving energy efficiency.
- 101 Money Saving Tips - This resource from We Energies, a utility company in Wisconsin, gives 101 simple tips to save money and energy at home.
Energy Vampires in Your Home
- Are Energy Vampires Sucking You Dry? - an article about phantom power, a behavior that may be costing you 10% extra on your power bill.