Ozark chapter home
December 1, 2005
Missouri Energy Costs to Jump This Winter:
Energy and Money Saving Tips for Consumers
by Joe Loper,
Alliance
to Save Energy, 2005
Household Energy
- Almost half of Missourians’ energy bill goes to heat their homes.
- The average energy bills for Missouri homes heated with natural
gas will increase by about $400. Average energy bills for homes heated with heating oil will go up about $230. Propane-heated homes will see their bills rise by about $300, while electric-heating costs will rise by about $15.
- Missouri gasoline prices are currently about 11% higher than one year ago. At today’s prices, Missouri households would pay about $2,900 annually for gasoline.
Reducing Home Heating Costs
- Turn down the thermostat. In Missouri, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by about 4% – between
$25 and $55, depending on the fuel used to heat the home.
- Plug leaks – Gaps between windows and doors may be small, but they can collectively add up to big energy losses. Plugging these leaks with caulk or other materials is the first action homeowners should take to combat high heating fuel costs. By sealing those leaks and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces,
Missouri households can reduce energy costs by about $120-$280 per year.
- Heat people and pets, not empty space – about 80% of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy – and money.
- Set the hot water heater at 120 degrees. Washing clothes in cold water can save Missouri households up to $49 dollars a year.
- A programmable thermostat costs about $100 – but can save Missouri households up to $60-$145 a year on home heating bills from using one
properly.1
Other Energy-Saving Tips
- By replacing their four most used bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, Missouri households can save about $155 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
|
Incandescent vs. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs |
| Bulb type |
75W Incandescent |
23W Compact Fluorescent |
| Purchase price ($) |
0.75 |
9.00 |
| Life of the bulb |
750 hours |
10,000 hours |
| Number of hours burned per day |
4 hours |
4 hours |
| Number of bulbs needed over 6.85 years |
14 |
1 |
| Total cost of bulbs ($) |
10.50 |
9.00 |
| Lumens |
1,200 |
1,400 |
| Total cost of electricity over 6.8 years ($) |
53.43 |
16.38 |
| Total cost over 6.85 years ($) |
63.93 |
25.38 |
| Total savings with a compact fluorescent bulb ($) |
38.54 |
| Total savings with four compact fluorescent bulbs ($) |
154.17 |
- When purchasing a new heating and cooling system, windows, or appliances, Missouri residents should purchase models with the ENERGY
STAR label.
- Vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning ups the engine (4%), replacing faulty oxygen sensor (40 percent), cleaning or replacing air filters (10%), keeping tires properly inflated (3%), and obeying the speed limit (7-23%).
1 Heating savings may not be additive. For example, the savings from a programmable thermostat will be reduced if the home is well insulated.