Readers - below is a handy infographic with great tips and statistics about home heating! (infographic from Energy.gov). Enjoy! 

(Original posting: http://energy.gov/articles/energy-saver-101-infographic-home-heating )

Below are some water heating tips to remember as the cold weather approaches! (From Next Step Living)

Did you know that heating water accounts for up to 25 percent of your home’s energy use? Slash that cost while curbing your energy use:

1. Go low-flow. Low-flow showerheads are a great way to cut down on water consumption. You can get them as a complimentary quick fix during a home energy evaluation.) If you buy one yourself, look at how many gallons per minute (gpm) it uses. Even if it says “water saver” on the package, it may still be a water hog. Be sure to get one that uses about 1.7 gpm.
    
2. Turn it down. Check your hot-water heater settings. The temperature should be set to under 120 degrees, for efficiency and for safety. Many hot water heaters don’t show specific temperatures on their settings, though. So, if the settings are “A,” “B” or “C,” keep it at “A” or “B,” since “C” is most likely the hottest setting. Or, you can test the hot water in your sink with a thermometer, and then adjust your hot water heater. 
    

3. Keep warm.  Insulate the pipes that go to and from your hot water heater in an unfinished basement. Otherwise you’ll waste a lot of heat (and money) as your water moves through pipes in a cold basement. 

(Original article: http://www.homeenergy.tips/money-savers/three-ways-cut-your-hot-water-bill)

Below are some Fall and Winter energy saving stips from Energy.gov. Stay warm!

This article will help you find strategies to help you save energy during the cool fall and cold winter months. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the winter.

Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun

• Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Cover Drafty Windows

• Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
• Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
  Find out about other window treatments and coverings that can improve energy efficiency.

Adjust the Temperature

• When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
• When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature.
  Find out how to operate your thermostat for maximum energy savings. 

Find and Seal Leaks 

• Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
• Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
  
  

Maintain Your Heating Systems

• Schedule service for your heating system.
  Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently.
• Furnaces: Replace your furnace filter once a month or as needed.
• Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.
  
  

Reduce Heat Loss from the Fireplace

• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
• When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly -- approximately 1 inch -- and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
• If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
• If you do use the fireplace, install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
• Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
• Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.
• Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
  Find out more techniques to improve your fireplace or wood-burning appliance's efficiency.
  Learn tips for safe and efficient fireplace installation and wood burning.

Lower Your Water Heating Costs

Water heating can account for 14% to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.

• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.
  Find other strategies for energy-efficient water heating.

Lower Your Holiday Lighting Costs

• Use light-emitting diode -- or "LED" -- holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating your home for the winter holidays.
  Learn about the advantages and potential cost savings of LED holiday light strings.
  Find manufacturers and brands of ENERGY STAR®-qualified decorative light strings.

(Original article: http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/fall-and-winter-energy-saving-tips )

We know how important it is to save energy and money. Below are some tips from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on minimizing your water heating operating costs. 

• Conserve Water. Your biggest opportunity for savings is to use less hot water. In addition to saving energy (and money), cutting down on hot water use helps conserve dwindling water supplies, which in some parts of the country is a critical problem. A family of four each showering five minutes a day can use about 700 gallons per week—a three-year drinking water supply for one person! Water-conserving showerheads and faucet aerators can cut hot water use in half. That family of four can save 14,000 gallons of water a year and the energy required to heat it.

• Insulate Your Existing Water Heater. If your electric water heater was installed before 2004, installing an insulating jacket is one of the most effective do-it-yourself energy-saving projects, especially if your water heater is in an unheated space. The insulating jacket will reduce standby heat loss—heat lost through the walls of the tank—by 25–40%, saving 4–9% on your water heating bills. Water heater insulation jackets are widely available for around $10. Always follow directions carefully when installing an insulation jacket.

• Insulate Hot Water Pipes. Insulating your hot water pipes will reduce losses as the hot water is flowing to your faucet and, more importantly, it will reduce standby losses when the tap is turned off and then back on within an hour or so. A great deal of energy and water is wasted waiting for the hot water to reach the tap. Even when pipes are insulated, the water in the pipes will eventually cool, but it stays warmer much longer than it would if the pipes weren’t insulated.

• Lower the Water Heater Temperature. Keep your water heater thermostat set at the lowest temperature that provides you with sufficient hot water. For most households, 120°F water is fine (about midway between the “low” and “medium” setting). Each 10°F reduction in water temperature will generally save 3–5% on your water heating costs. When you are going away on vacation, you can turn the thermostat down to the lowest possible setting, or turn the water heater off altogether for additional savings. With a gas water heater, make sure you know how to relight the pilot if you’re going to turn it off while away.