Conservation reduces your energy bills and is better for the environment. And the full-service Oilheat professionals at Long Energy can help you curb fuel consumption, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our efficiency experts can evaluate your heating systems and your whole house to identify conservation opportunities, then implement energy-saving measures.
There are a number of steps you can take that are proven to save energy and money
- Install a digital programmable thermostat. It puts your heating system on an automatic schedule: full heat during hours when the home is active, and reduced heat when the house is empty or the family is asleep. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says that reducing your home’s temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce total heating costs by 5 to 15 percent.
- Insulate thoroughly to eliminate heat loss through your walls, ceilings and floors. You could reduce your fuel bills by as much as 15 percent, according to Consumer Energy Council of America.
- Insulate your hot water tank. DOE recommends that you insulate the tank or water heater and the first six feet of hot water pipe.
- Upgrade your Oilheat system with a flame retention burner, which uses a sophisticate combustion head to burn Oilheat cleanly and efficiently. Brookhaven National Library estimates savings from a flame retention burner alone can cut fuel costs by 17 percent.
- Schedule your heating system tune-up every spring, summer or early fall. A well-tuned boiler or furnace burns 5 percent less fuel.
- Replace outdated appliances with high-efficiency ENERGY STAR units.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that uses only 25 percent as much energy.
- If you have a furnace, clean or replace the air filter once a month to assure the best airflow and efficiency. Make sure that furniture or draperies do not block vents.
- Reduce your water heater temperature to 120 degrees F. When you leave on vacation, turn down the temperature on the water heater.
- Add caulking and weather-stripping around doors, attic access, windows outdoor faucets and any areas where there might be leaks. (As much as 40 percent of your heating and cooling costs can be due to air leaks.) Check caulking at least once a year and replace material that has dried out and shrunk.
One BIG Step to Savings
The best way to beat the high cost of energy is to use less of it. Homeowners who have older Oilheat systems can lower their fuel costs by 40 percent by installing a new, high-efficiency system. New designs incorporate technologies like condensing and multi-stage operation to squeeze every ounce of heat from the system. The savings provide a remarkable return on investment that keeps paying off year after year.
Why burn money, literally, when you could be enjoying the benefits of a clean, quiet, comfortable, modern Oilheat system. For your heating systems efficiency evaluation, contact Long Energy today.
