9 Ways to Reduce the Energy Bill for Your Maine Home, Now!

Written on: June 11, 2021

You can significantly cut back on your annual energy costs by taking these suggestions to heart. If you have questions about any of these recommendations, contact your local oilheat dealer, who will be happy to help you!

1. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Consult a local builder or insulation specialist to make sure the insulation in your exterior walls, crawl spaces, and ceilings is up to recommended levels for thickness and R-factor (effectiveness). You could slash heating costs by 40% or more!
2. Seal air leaks. You wouldn’t leave a window open all winter, so don’t let heat escape from countless hard-to-see places in your home that all add up, from attic to foundation to air ducts.
3. Have a professional evaluate your home for recommended solutions. You may not be able to address all of the air leaks in your home. If you think there’s more to the problem than you can address, bring in a professional.
4. Install programmable thermostats, and save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs each year.
5. Consider space-heating solutions. Space-heating units can take the pressure off your central system. They’re affordable, easily installed, and virtually maintenance-free.
6. Install outdoor reset controls, and save on your heating costs. Why have your boiler running year-round as if it were -20° outside? With automatic controls and sensors, higher outdoor temperatures allow your boiler to run efficiently with less fuel.
7. Add storm doors. This outer door forms a first defense against wind, and creates trapped air between the doors that’s an effective “dead air” insulation barrier.
>Weatherize old windows. Caulk around loose panes, and add weather stripping between sashes and sills. Staple or tack a tight layer of polyurethane plastic sheeting on the outside. For extremely troublesome windows, apply plastic sheeting on the inside, too. If there’s still a lot of air leakage, it’s best to replace old windows with new ones.
8. Use landscaping to block winter winds. Plant evergreen trees and shrubs on the north and northwest of your home to reduce wind chill and create insulating dead air space.
9. Look for high-efficiency Energy Star® options when it’s time to replace appliances.

Get more helpful hints from the Energy-Saving Tips page!