Dominion Virginia Power Offers Home
Winterizing Tips
RICHMOND, Va. – With the coming of winter’s
colder temperatures, Dominion Virginia Power encourages its customers to use
smart energy practices to keep their homes warm and heating systems working
at peak efficiencies.
To get the best value for the energy dollar,
it is important for consumers to know where energy is used in their houses.
Dominion Virginia Power invites customers to visit the company’s Internet
site for energy-saving
information or to enroll in its Energy Audit Assistance Program.
Heating costs can account for 25 percent to 50
percent of a home’s total energy expense, so efficiency experts offer
these tips to control heating costs:
Have a qualified heating contractor inspect and service
your system to ensure it is safe and working at peak efficiency.
If you have a forced-air heating system, clean or replace
the filter monthly and keep heat vents open and unobstructed by furniture.
Make sure that all ductwork is sealed at joints and intersections
with duct sealer or silicone caulk. Otherwise, supply ductwork can leak heated
air into the attic or crawl space, and outside air can be drawn into the return
ductwork, increasing costs and reducing comfort dramatically.
Set the thermostat at 68 degrees or the lowest temperature
you find comfortable. For every degree you lower the setting, you can see
a difference of up to 3 percent in energy costs. Setting it lower at night
will produce savings with gas and oil systems, but is not recommended for
heat pump systems unless you have a programmable thermostat specifically designed
for that system.
If you have a gas or oil furnace, consider adding a high-efficiency
heat pump. It could save you up to 60 percent on heating costs and keep you
cool next summer.
Trim or remove grass, weeds, leaves and other obstacles
from around the outdoor unit of your heating or cooling system. When airflow
is blocked, it puts a strain on the system and lowers efficiency.
Air leakage accounts for about 30 percent of
heating expenses. Experts agree on these recommendations:
Use caulk or expanding spray foam to seal around pipes
and wires that lead from the attic or crawl space into the home. Install gaskets
in outlets and switches on outside walls to prevent air leakage.
Caulk cracks around window and door moldings, and place
weather-stripping around doorframes and at the top and bottom of window sashes.
Caulk cracks around masonry fireplaces and keep the damper
closed when the fireplace is not in use.
Install weather-stripping and insulate attic doors and
pull-downs. Check the attic insulation. If it is sparse or badly settled,
consider blowing in more to bring it up to a minimum of R-30.
If you have a crawl space, make sure the vents are closed
and you have a good vapor barrier (at least 6-mil polyethylene) on the ground.
If you don't have insulation in the floor, consider adding R-19 insulation
batts.
The U.S. Department of Energy Web site also has
information on winterizing your house and other ways to make your home energy-smart.
For more information, visit the DOE on the Internet at http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/homes.
The DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency
sponsor Home Energy Saver, a Web-based do-it-yourself energy audit
tool at http://hes.lbl.gov/.
Dominion also asks that you contribute to EnergyShare
to assist those in need. EnergyShare helps pay home heating bills for qualified
individuals living within the company's service area. The program pays for any
heating source: oil, gas, kerosene, wood, and electricity. It is a program of
last resort for the elderly, the ill and for all who face financial hardships
from unemployment or family crisis. Payments go directly to energy vendors on
behalf of those helped, and every dollar donated goes to benefit those in need.
Dominion Virginia Power customers can contribute
to EnergyShare by adding an extra $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $25 or $35 to monthly
bills. The company's computers automatically recognize these exact amounts as
contributions to EnergyShare. An envelope also will be inserted in customers'
bills in February soliciting contributions. Donations may be mailed to EnergyShare,
P.O. Box 12083, Richmond, Va. 23241-0083.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers
of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 25,500 megawatts of generation.
Dominion also serves retail energy customers in eight states. For more information
about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
