In Oklahoma, winter is still going strong through February and at least part of March. For most of us,
winter means an increase in household energy consumption as we crank up the thermostat to stay warm.

Most homes in central Oklahoma are heated with natural gas which, like heating oil, has become more expensive. Reducing energy costs means minimizing the use of ever-more-costly fuel. Here are tips on how to ease the impact on your family’s budget.

How to Insulate Your Budget

• Set the thermostat as low as is comfortable and leave it alone. Unless you plan to be away from home for an extended time, most energy specialists recommend leaving the thermostat set around the clock to maintain a constant temperature. Changing the thermostat setting on extremely cold or hot days may actually increase your energy consumption and reduce the life of your unit.

• Monitor the thermostat setting. It’s cheaper to put on a sweater than to push up the temperature. Setting the thermostat to 68° is generally recommended and can make a big difference in energy costs. It’s estimated that heating costs increase by 3% for each degree above 68.

• Close shades or drapes after the sun goes down to reduce heat loss through your windows. Consider using insulated curtains to help keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

• Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. In just one hour these fans can pull out a house full of warmed or cooled air, so turn them off as soon as they’ve done the job.

• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. Dirty filters make heating and cooling systems work harder.

• When not in use, keep the fireplace damper closed. An open damper is equivalent to keeping a 48” window open during the winter because warm air goes up the chimney. If you use artificial logs and need to keep the damper open,
install tempered glass doors over the front.

• Test your home for air tightness. On a windy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows,
doors, electrical boxes and outlets, plumbing fixtures, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and other locations where there could be an air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you’ve located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. (Note: ribbon may be used instead of incense.)

• Install storm windows. Storm windows can reduce heat loss through your windows by 25%-50%. The windows should have weather stripping at all moveable joints, be made of strong, durable materials, and have interlocking or overlapping joints. Energy efficient storm windows save even more energy.

• Plant trees and shrubs for yearround benefits. Deciduous trees that lose their leaves provide shade in summer and let the sun warm your home during winter. Evergreens on the north side offer a windbreak, but avoid planting them near power lines.

• Have a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor check units to ensure they are in good working order. If necessary, replace the unit with a newer, more efficient model.

• Shut off heating in unused rooms if the house has zoned units. However, be careful about closing doors and vents in homes with only one central forced heating unit. Doors need to be open for the return air system to work properly.

Sue Lynn Sasser, PhD, is an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma. In addition, Dr. Sasser serves as executive director of the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education and director of the UCO Center for Economic Education. She is past president of the Oklahoma JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. She lives in Edmond, with her dog Lily.