Education

Save on over 50% of your winter electric bill.

Heating alone accounts for almost 50% of a typical U.S. household's winter energy use (The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)).

There are many inexpensive ways to save with DP&L's Tips to Stay Warm for Less.

Winter heating tips:

• Use a programmable thermostat or manually decrease the temperature when you leave home so your system doesn't run as frequently. Some experts suggest 65-68 degrees for the setting while you are home during winter months. Each degree above 68°F can add 3% to the amount of energy needed for heating.  You can lower the temperature a little further when you sleep and use a heavy blanket to stay warm.
• Clean or replace your furnace filters so your warm air meets less resistance. Keep furniture, draperies and other interference away from your registers, baseboard heaters and radiators – and don't forget to clean them.
• Close registers in one or two unused rooms and close the doors.
• Have your unit checked once a year to ensure it's working as efficiently as possible.
• You could save about $150 a year in energy costs by replacing an older, inefficient heat pump with a new, high efficiency model AND right now you can instantly save $100-600 on the purchase of a new, high efficiency heat pump.

Remove heat-escape pathways:

• The DOE found the top places air escapes from your home. Seal air leaks and/or insulate around the following areas:
  • Floors, walls and ceilings (31%)
  • Ducts (15%)
  • Fireplace (14%)
  • Plumbing (13%)
  • Doors (11%)
  • Windows (10%)
  • Fans and vents (4%)
  • Electric outlets (2%)
• Add insulation to your hot water heater, pipes, heating ducts, attic and/or crawl space.
• Keep your damper closed when the fireplace isn't in use.
• Enjoy the sunshine by opening your draperies and blinds on sunny days to help heat your home - then shut them at night. Install a storm door or storm windows.
• Use kitchen and bath fans no more than 20 minutes after cooking or bathing to keep warm air in your home.

Check frequently on elderly relatives and neighbors during cold, winter days. Heating assistance for income-eligible individuals is available through the Ohio Development Services Agency.