Temperatures in your area will fall below 20 degrees in the coming days – and the wind chill will make it feel even colder – according to the National Weather Service. At night, temps will drop even further. Your furnace will use more gas and electricity during this time to keep you comfortable, which will increase your energy bill. Here are a few tips to lower your energy usage and lessen the impact on your upcoming bill.
First, understand what impacts your winter energy bill
- You turn up the heat to stay warm when it’s cold outside, even when you’re asleep. Your furnace uses both natural gas and electricity.
- Your furnace works extra hard to keep you comfortable during extreme weather, even if you keep your thermostat at a low setting. It works even harder if your home isn’t well-insulated or if you have old windows.
- Colder and shorter days mean people spend more time indoors, turn on more lights, use electronics and set thermostats higher.
Easy ways to lower your energy usage
- Adjust your thermostat by dialing back the temperature a few degrees during the day, and slightly lower at night or when you’re away. Even better: use a programmable thermostat and set it to your schedule.
- Uncover vents by moving furniture and drapes so heat can circulate freely throughout your home.
- Replace your furnace filter if you haven’t in the past three months.
- Turn off unused lights or use timers for lamps and holiday decorations to cut down on unnecessary energy use.
- Allow warm sunlight in windows during the day and cover them at night to reduce drafts.
- Turn on your ceiling fans and run them clockwise to draw warm air near the ceiling down throughout the room.
Analyze your home’s energy usage
Last winter, Michigan experienced some extreme temperatures, and it affected energy bills. Look back on your energy usage with our free Bill Analyzer Tool, available in your DTE online account. The tool can help you better understand how your home uses energy, so you can make the best decisions for your budget and plan for the winter ahead.
Want to take it a step further? Our DTE Insight App has easy-to-use features that help you understand, manage, control and transform your home energy use and reduce your monthly bill.
If you or someone you know are in need of a warming center in the coming days, visit our up-to-date list of Michigan warming centers on our blog.
Need help paying your bill? Contact DTE as soon as possible so we can connect you with the help you need before winter hits. Visit dteenergy.com/help for more information.