Fight Fall's Frosty Weather with Tips from NSTAR.BOSTON -- Fall's here, temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter. Before long, heating systems will soon be called back into action. To help customers prepare for the coming heating season, NSTAR NSTAR NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness has timely advice for keeping homes warm and energy efficient. Prepare now with an in-home energy assessment - No-cost energy assessments are available to NSTAR customers. These walk-through assessments are done by a skilled energy efficiency specialist and include a thorough analysis of the home's energy use, advice for saving energy and information about available rebates and financing. Customers are encouraged to call 800-632-8300 for more information. Switch to programmable thermostats A programmable thermostat is a thermostat which is designed to adjust the temperature according to a series of programmed settings that take effect at different times of the day. Programmable thermostats may also be called setback thermostats or clock thermostats. - Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature by using settings that residents can control. Recommended settings are 68 degrees when the home is occupied and lower overnight or when everyone is gone for the day. Every degree a thermostat thermostat, automatic device that regulates temperature in an enclosed area by controlling heating or refrigerating systems. It is commonly connected to one of these systems, turning it on or off in order to maintain a predetermined temperature. is lowered during an eight hour period can save up to three percent on heating bills. NSTAR offers a $25 rebate rebate, partial refund of the total price paid for goods or services. In the United States, rebates were historically given by railroads to favored shippers as a return on transportation charges. on qualifying thermostat models. Have heating systems inspected and cleaned - A properly cleaned and adjusted heating system will run more efficiently and save money. Old, inefficient systems should be replaced. NSTAR customers can save between $100 and $1,000 on a new system by taking advantage of available rebates. Repair or replace windows - Inefficient windows can account for up to 25 percent of a home's heating bill. Simple steps to make windows more energy efficient include repairing damaged glazing Glazing The application of finely ground glass, or glass-forming materials, or a mixture of both, to a ceramic body and heating (firing) to a temperature where the material or materials melt, forming a coating of glass on the surface of the ware. , adding weather-stripping and installing insulating window shades. Old, inefficient windows should be replaced with Energy Star-labeled windows with high-performance glass. Rebates and low-interest financing are available. Consider adding insulation insulation (ĭn'səlā`shən, ĭn'sy  –), use of materials or devices to inhibit or prevent the conduction of heat or of electricity. - Increasing a home's insulation is
one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste
and make the most of energy dollars. Investing in proper insulation and
sealing air leaks can reduce a home's heating and cooling needs by
up to 10 percent. Low-interest financing is currently available.
Remember the simple things - Some steps that every resident can do on their own to save energy during the heating season include: keep radiators or heating vents dust-free and don't block them with furniture or draperies; keep shades and curtains open during the day on the south side of the home to take advantage of solar heating solar heating Use of solar radiation to heat water or air in buildings. There are two types: passive and active. Passive heating relies on architectural design; the building's siting, orientation, layout, materials, and construction are utilized to maximize the heating , but close them at night to retain the heat; place a sheet of aluminum foil Noun 1. aluminum foil - foil made of aluminum aluminium foil, tin foil foil - a piece of thin and flexible sheet metal; "the photographic film was wrapped in foil" between the radiator radiator, device used to heat an area surrounding it or to cool a fluid circulating within it. The familiar radiators of steam and hot water heating systems in buildings are misnamed, as they operate principally by convection, in which heat is transferred by air and the wall to reflect heat back into the room. NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities. For more information, visit www.nstar.com. |
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