Energy Efficiency How-To: Simple Advice For Lowering Heating Bills

Expert Sources from Lennox Available to Provide Tips for Increasing Home Comfort and Lowering Utility Bills this Winter

Source Information

While this winter has been relatively mild so far, homeowners throughout the country are facing higher heating bills. In fact, according to the Energy Information Administration, U.S. consumers are expected to pay on average $921 to heat their homes during the traditional home heating season (from October through March), compared with $786 during the last heating season.

Homeowners who heat their homes with heating oil are expected to pay the most – $1,394 on average or 16.3 percent more than last year – followed by propane users ($1,252 or 13.6 percent more than last year), natural gas users ($920 or 24 percent more than last year), and electricity users ($753 or 5.1 percent more than last year).

To help homeowners weather the cold winter months, representatives from Lennox Industries, a leading provider of customized home comfort systems, can provide consumers with practical tips for increasing home comfort while saving money.

Tips for Lowering Heating Bills

Following are some simple tips from Lennox to help lower utility bills this winter:

Keep shades or curtains drawn on the sunny side of the house, especially during early- and mid-afternoon hours.
Keep blinds open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and heat the home.
Seal cracks around windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping.
Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature at certain times of the day, automatically keeping the temperature lower when you’re away or sleeping at night.
Clean or replace the natural gas furnace filter every three months to ensure the furnace is running at full efficiency, and check to make sure the home’s heating vents are open and not blocked by furniture or curtains.
Consider replacing an older furnace with a newer, more efficient model.
Insulate the water heater with a water heater jacket that can be purchased at most hardware stores, and lower the temperature setting on the water heater to save energy.
Add extra insulation to the attic.
Make sure roof shingles are intact and flashings around chimneys, skylights, antennas and vents are sealed.

Interview Opportunities:

Steve Attri, a home heating and energy efficiency expert with Lennox, is available for media interviews. Attri can show consumers how to save money this winter by making a few simple household improvements over the course of a few hours.

About Lennox

Lennox Industries’ heating, cooling, indoor air quality and fireplace products are designed to deliver customized comfort, efficiency and functionality, with the most innovative and reliable features available. Lennox also offers the Lennox Healthy Advantage Program, a simple and cost-effective indoor air quality testing service that includes an independent air-quality evaluation and professional consultation. For more information about Lennox and its customized home comfort systems, please visit www.lennox.com.

Contact

To schedule an interview with a Lennox representative, please contact:

Laura Aplin
214-303-6010
[email protected]

Anna Briseno
214-303-60050
[email protected]