As the seasons change and the weather starts to cool down, it’s a great time to look for ways to cut back and save money each month. Your utility bills are the perfect place to start and—honestly—saving is probably a lot easier than you think! Just follow these tips to lower your electricity and natural gas bills this fall.
For help implementing the tips below, contact UGI EnergyLink online or give us a call us at 800-797-0712 today!
Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
The first step to saving money on energy bills this fall is to improve your home’s performance. You have probably heard of modern “green” homes that are built to incorporate the best energy conservation techniques available. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy a new house to enjoy the benefits of improved efficiency. Some ways you can reduce waste and lower your bills include:
- Seal leaky windows and doors with caulk (for stationary joints) and weather stripping (for movable joints).
- Add insulation to the attic to keep heated air inside.
- Install ENERGY STAR® appliances that consume less energy.
- Install a programmable thermostat capable of energy-saving setback periods.
- Put in low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets.
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs.
- Plant shrubs a few feet from your home’s foundation to act as a windbreaker.
Adopt Energy-Saving Habits
Once you have helped your home perform better, it’s time to heat, cool, cook, and clean more efficiently. Here’s how:
- Set the thermostat to 68 degrees as fall transitions to winter. Then, set the temperature back 8 to 10 degrees while you’re gone during the day or sleeping at night.
- Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees.
- Wash more loads of laundry in cold water.
- Open the curtains during the day for natural home heating and lighting. Close them again at night to insulate the windows.
- Unplug electronics and appliances when not in use to reduce standby energy loss.
- Set timers on outdoor lighting.
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Convert from Oil to Natural Gas
While prices fluctuate, natural gas is usually significantly more affordable than oil. Heating a home with oil may cost about $1,400 per winter, but that same house could be heated with natural gas for less than $580, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And, with more than 46,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania, the chances are good that no new pipes will need to be built for you to convert from oil to natural gas.
Switch Energy Providers
The final step to saving money on energy bills this fall is to decrease the rate you pay for electricity and natural gas. This is only an option in some states, such as Pennsylvania, that have a deregulated energy market. This way, you can shop around for competitive rates without sacrificing the quality of your electricity and natural gas services.
Save Money on Energy Bills This Fall in PA
Whether you’re hoping to convert to natural gas or you just want to lower your existing rates, choose UGI EnergyLink as your natural gas and electricity supplier in Pennsylvania. We simplify the process of comparing utility companies to ensure you lock in the lowest rate possible. Plus, we make switching easy! You won’t even experience an interruption to your services.
To make a switch that will save you money on your energy bills this fall, call UGI EnergyLink at 800-797-0712 or contact us online today!