Thermal Imaging Inspection

WINTER ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

Use a programmable thermostat with your heating system to automatically lower the temperature at night or when no one is home.

Keep the warm air in and the cold air out by adding insulation, caulking and weatherstipping around doors, attic access, windows, outlets and any area that can let the cold air in and the warm air out. Or, call a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor to assess your home's efficiency.

It's a good time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace old batteries. Remember - as you seal up leaks in your home this becomes even more important.

Make sure floor and wall vents are not blocked by draperies, furniture, or rugs. Vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or broom.

Keep blinds and drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night.

When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed.

Have your heating system inspected by a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor. If you have a forced-air heating system, check your air filters once a month and replace if dirty.

Make sure outdoor portions of your heating system are not blocked by leaves, shrubbery, or other objects.

If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can't be removed, buy a cover to prevent drafts.

Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. Gaskets can be found in most home improvement stores.

Ceiling fans can keep you comfortable in the winter too! Reversing the direction of the blades pushes warm air down in to the room.

Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. For added savings, have your water heater wrapped with an insulation blanket by your Heating/Plumbing Contractor.

EXTERIOR

Doors

Choose ENERGY STAR qualified doors that use materials to prevent heat loss and provide maximum energy savings.

Use multiple glass panes (double- or triple-paned insulating glass) to reduce heat flow.

Use improved weather stripping in the frames as well as a magnetic strip to create a tighter seal to help reduce air leakage around the edges.

Windows

Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified windows to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in winter.

Use multiple panes of glass to insulate against the weather, sound, and impacts.

Consider U-value and Low-E coatings. U-value is the measure of the window’s ability to insulate. Low-E window coatings are thin and transparent, permitting visible light to pass through, while effectively reflecting radiation and keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Close storm windows in the fall.

Plastic installed over windows will help reduce drafts when installed securely.

Skylights

Choose energy-efficient skylights to help in reducing your home heating and cooling costs.

Use multiple panes of glass to insulate against the weather, sound, and impacts.

Attics

Insulate your home, especially the attic.

Install a vapor barrier in your attic to reduce the flow of moisture from inside your home through the insulation. This eliminates the condensation that reduces insulation efficiency.

Exterior Lighting

Use solar-powered LED landscape lighting. This new technology is charged by sunlight (using zero metered electricity) and lasts for up to 8 hours with a full charge.

New York HEAP Program - Home Energy Assistance Program

Low Income
Receive a $500 cash incentive if your household income is less than or equal to these guidelines.
HEAP is a federally funded program administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) that provides financial assistance to eligible households to help pay for their home heating costs.
It is structured in such a way that higher benefits are provided to those households that:

Spend a large portion of their income on energy bills;

Have a child or children under age 8, adults over 60, or disabled individuals living in the house;

Have the lowest income; or

Run out of heating fuel.

To be eligible, a household must meet income guidelines; currently 60% of the State Median Income or below, and either pay directly for heating costs or pay rent that includes heating costs. Individual applicants must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens.
http://www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/#eligible

Furnace Repair or Replacement

The Furnace Repair and Replacement Component of the Home Energy Assistance Program is available to help eligible low-income home owners repair or replace furnaces, boilers and other direct heating components necessary to keep the home's primary heating source functional.
Furnace benefits amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to replace or repair the applicants’ furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment necessary to keep the home's primary heating source operational.
To receive a benefit, an application must be made in person at the local department of social services and the applicant must receive a determination from the local department of social services that the applicant has met all established eligibility criteria, including established income and resource requirements. Benefits are paid directly to vendors after completion of all work for previously approved applications only.
http://www.getenergysmart.org/HouseholdIncome.aspx