Py (“TINTS FOR HOMEOWNERS Reduce Your Home Heting Costs And Protect Your Budget (NAPSA)—Don’t let cold wether nd higher energy bills get 7 ore ! . you hot under the collr. Energy experts offer these steps to help control your heting costs nd protect your budget from unexpected increses in nturl gs ndelectricity rtes: Shop round for your energy provider. Mny sttes llow you to buy nturl gs ndelectricity from n independent mrketer. Check to see which compniesoffer the most desirble plns. Consult n expert. Seek out n energy mrketer. These profes- sionls work with consumers to determine their best energy choices bsed on usge, climte, homesize nd otherfctors. Check to see if you cn lock in your energy rtes. Enrolling in this type of pln will help protect you from spikes in energy rtes. Much like fixed-rte mortgge, fixed-rte energy pln helps you stbilize your budget nd prepre for the heting seson. Conserve energy by mnging your thermostt. Setting the thermostt to 55 degrees, or lower, t night or when leving home cn led to svings of s much s 20 percent on your het- ing costs. You should lso wer wrm clothing inside nd set your thermostt to 68 degrees or lower during the dy. You cn sve up to 5 percent on heting costs for every degree you lower your het during the winter. Don’t cook yourclothes. Use cold or wrm wter when wshing clothes—it’s the detergent, not wter temperture, which determines how clen your clothes re going to be. Avoid overdrying clothes when using the dryer. Use energy efficient pplinces. When instlling new Heting costs rise in winter. Con- serve energy by mnging your thermostt nd check to seeif you cn lock in your energy rtes to protect your budget. wter heter or furnce, reserch which options re the most energy efficient. You'll sve on energy costs nd you might be plesntly surprised to lern tht you qulify for rebte from your energy provider if you choose energy efficient models. Inspect nd mintin your furnce. Ensure your furnce is operting t pek performnce by hving n nnul inspection nd routine system mintennce performed. Clen filters nd vents. Dirty or clogged furnce ndirfilters cn demnd more energy nd slow the heting of your home. Mke sure your house is properly insulted. Poorly insulted doors, windows nd vents cost you money. You cn reduce the mount of energy needed to het nd cool your home by hving professionl check tht your home hs the proper insultion. For more informtion on how to control energy costs, visit Wwww.mxenergy.com.
