The winter season is upon us and PNM wants to help you stay efficient with your energy use while staying warm around your house. Here are five simple tools to keep your bill low throughout the cold season.
Use Your Ceiling Fans to Offset Heating Costs: Ceiling fan direction in the winter should be switched to clockwise and set at the lowest speed. This will allow the fan to pull cool air up toward the ceiling, which in turn displaces the warm air that rises. This simple step can help with circulating the warmer air in the room and save you money on your electric bill.
Take advantage of sunlight: You can heat your home naturally using our wonderful New Mexico sunlight by opening curtains on south-facing windows during the day. Remember to close them at night. This will prevent you from losing any heat through the windows.
Install a Smart Thermostat: Installing a smart thermostat is a smart thing to do for your home. ENERGY STAR® estimates that you can save as much as 10 percent on heating and cooling costs by properly using a smart or programmable thermostat to manage heating and cooling your home.
Lowering your thermostat can help: If it makes sense for your lifestyle, find out how low you can set your thermostat and still feel comfortable. You can start by setting it a couple of degrees lower than your normal setting and wear a favorite sweater or hoodie, or snuggle with a blanket.
Seal Cracks, Gaps, and Air Leaks: Reduce your heating costs by sealing cracks and gaps. Add weather stripping & caulking around all doors, windows, and attic entryways to reduce air leaks. Seal the air leaks around all the utility cut-throughs for pipes, gaps around fireplace chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind your kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets and closets.
For more ways to reduce your home energy usage in your everyday life, visit PNM.com/tips.
