Simple Steps to Cut Energy Costs
Lucas Browning, the energy services representative at Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC), reminds members that a few simple energy efficiency steps can make a noticeable difference on winter power bills.
“January is typically 1 of the coldest months of the year – even in Alabama,” he said. “Heating systems run longer and harder, so electricity consumption increases.”
Members ensuring their home heats and cools efficiently is the single biggest way to lower electricity use in the winter.
“Set your thermostat to 68 degrees as this is the Department of Energy’s recommendation for wintertime thermostats,” he said. “Anything higher makes the unit run longer and harder during significant temperature swings.”
Sealing air leaks around doors, windows, and outlets is also critical for comfort and savings.
“Weather-stripping can make a difference,” Browning said. “Keeping warm air inside reduces how often your heating system must cycle on.”
Routine maintenance matters as well. Change HVAC filters once a month so the system doesn’t have to work so hard to move air.
“Also, don’t forget to reverse ceiling fans to clockwise rotation in the winter so they push warm air down from the ceiling into the living space,” he said.
Browning cautions members about using emergency heat.
“Many heat pumps switch automatically to emergency heat in cold weather,” he said. “Homeowners should avoid turning this setting on manually. Emergency heat relies on electric resistance coils, which consume much more electricity than the heat pump itself. This can cause bills to spike rapidly, so it should only activate automatically when necessary.”
Space heaters should be used only in emergency situations. While convenient, space heaters are expensive to operate.
“A typical 1,500-watt space heater can use 36 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a 24-hour period,” Browning said. “That’s the equivalent to running a large appliance non-stop. That cost adds up quickly on a monthly bill.”
Browning said that built-in electric fireplaces and freestanding electric stoves are essentially space heaters as well.
“Their attractive design often leads people to run them longer, not realizing they draw the same amount of electricity as a space heater if not more,” he said.
Opening the curtains during the day to allow free solar heat into the house and closing them at night to retain warmth is also a good tip.
“Simple habits like this will help your heater run less often,” Browning said.
Some people automatically increase the thermostat at night, but Browning recommended using heavier blankets or electric blankets, which use far less energy than heating the whole house.
“This approach keeps you warm while avoiding unnecessary overnight heating costs,” he said.
Browning reiterated that January can be 1 of the toughest months for energy use, but small steps really do make a big difference.
“If our members follow even a few of these efficiency tips, they’ll stay more comfortable and see real savings on their winter power bills,” he said.
For information on Energy Service Programs at CVEC, visit the Energy Services page.