Marshfield Utilities Offers Tips for Winter Energy Conservation
During the winter months, electricity costs can skyrocket. Thankfully, Marshfield Utilities offers steps consumers can take to reduce what they are spending on this modern necessity.
“Marshfield Utilities not only supports energy-reducing efforts, but encourages it,” James Benson, Energy and Water Conservation Coordinator at Marshfield Utilities. “We do this because it’s the right thing to do for our community, our environment, and to control infrastructure investments.”
A supporter of solar energy, water conservation, and wellhead protection of groundwater, Marshfield Utilities participates in a state-wide program called Focus on Energy.
“Over the nine years of our commitment, we’ve seen four times the amount of monies come back to our residential and commercial customers than we’ve paid in to participate in the program itself,” said Benson. ”By participating in the Focus on Energy program, it brings money back to our community to be spent in our community.”
Marshfield Utilities also employs an Energy & Water Conservation Coordinator who is available to assist residential customers with an in-home energy assessment to identify those areas in which they can conserve.
“The assessment takes between an hour to an hour and a half, and different tools are used to identify inefficiencies within the home,” explained Benson
Proud to be one of, if not the, least expensive utility in the State of Wisconsin, the monies Marshfield Utilities takes in through the sale of electricity and water is invested back into infrastructure and the community.
“The more our customers conserve, the less monies we have to put into sub-stations, water mains, chemicals for water treatment, power poles, power lines etc,” said Benson. “We have a strong management team that pursues the best interest of our customers, community, and the protection of our environment.”
“Marshfield Utilities is a not-for-profit utility,” he added. “We’re in business to sell affordable, reliable electricity and water services.”
With a dedication to conservation, Marshfield Utilities encourages customers to take certain steps during the colder months to help reduce their own costs and help the community overall.
Beware Of The Space Heater!
The number one culprit when the temperature drops is electric space heaters, as even those that claim “energy-efficiency” can be costly. For example, if a 1500-watt electric heater were operated at an electric rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour, the cost per day is 
$3.06. That means a cost of nearly $100/month.
“As you can see, electric heat is rather costly,” said Benson. “With that said, space heaters aren’t inherently bad. The purchaser needs to understand the intended use. Put a space heater in the place where your family gathers, like the living room, and turn down the furnace temperature. The rest of the house will be cooler but you’ll be warm, and you can save 3 percent on your heating costs for every degree below 70 degrees.”
Benson offers the following easy low-cost steps a homeowner can implement to reduce energy costs during the winter…
Energy Tips For The Wintertime
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LIMIT LEAKS
Worn and torn weather stripping around doors and windows creates drafts and lets in cold air. Seven to 12 percent of a home’s heat loss occurs around windows and doors. These leaks often prompt homeowners to turn their furnace up to keep comfortable. Even if they don’t turn it up, they’re losing warm air, causing the furnace to work harder. It’s also very important to maintain a clean furnace filter.
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DITCH DRAFTY AREAS (with INSULATION!)
Electrical boxes such as light switches and outlets on your exterior walls are notoriously drafty because insulation isn’t always placed behind and around them. 2% of a home’s energy is lost due to uninsulated exterior wall electrical switches and outlets. To stop the leaks, remove the cover plates and fill small gaps around the boxes with acrylic latex caulk. For large gaps, use foam sealant. Then place a foam gasket over the outlet or switch and replace the cover plate. The gaskets cost about $1.50 for a pack of two. That small investment pays off for as long as you own your home.
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GET RID OF THE GAP
Pipes, gas lines, air conditioning lines and electrical cables that enter your house often have gaps around them that have been poorly filled with some kind of caulk. But that caulk eventually cracks, peels, and falls off. These gaps let in outside air, plus they are ideal entry points for mice and insects.Seal the gaps with expanding foam. For water pipes under the sink, unscrew and pull back the escutcheon ring, then caulk around the pipe. The ring is just decorative. It’s not going to block airflow.
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WATCH THOSE WINDOWS
Windows account for 25 percent of heat loss in homes. Covering the windows and sliding patio doors with clear plastic film can reduce that loss. You can save about 14% on your heating cost just by adding plastic transparent film. The transparent film is inexpensive you can find it at any local home center store. The film is simple to put on and won’t harm your trim, and if you put it on correctly you’ll barely notice it. It’s also easily removed.
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AIM AT THE ATTIC
Even in well-insulated attics, the access door may not be properly insulated, letting warm air escape through the attic hatch. If the door is warped or something obstructs the opening, then the door won’t lay flat, allowing air to leak into the attic. You don’t want any air going up through the attic access. Make sure the door is insulated, and you want to make sure it forms a good seal. To ensure that the door blocks airflow, use adhesive to attach fiberglass batt insulation to the attic side of the door. If the door won’t lie flat, affix some type of a closure system to close it tight.
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DOCTOR DAMAGED DUCTS
Take a look at your accessible ductwork in your basement or attic. Look for places where the ducts may have pulled apart at seams and corners. The typical house with forced-air heating loses about 20 to 30 percent of the air that moves through the system to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts. That wasted heat is not going to those rooms that you and your family occupy. Place aluminum foil tape (NOT DUCT TAPE) over any leaks to seal them. I’ve found that most duct joints leak.
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ENLIST AN EXPERT
Have your heating system checked at least once every two years by a professional heating and cooling company. Not only will they tune and clean your system for optimal operation, they’ll also be able to identify any gas or carbon monoxide leaks keeping your family safe.
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TECHNOLOG-IZE YOUR THERMOSTAT
The savings from programmable thermostats are well-documented. By automatically turning down the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day, either when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping, these thermostats can cut your heating bill by 10 percent or more. Programmable thermostats are now cheaper than ever, with models starting under $25.
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SOAK UP THE SUN
Take full advantage of the sun’s rays. Open the curtains, especially on the South side of your home. The added heat from the sun will reduce the running time of your furnace or electric heater. Close the curtains at night, they act as barriers to reduce drafts.
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RELEASE YOUR REGISTER
The warm air blowing out of your registers needs a clear path into the room to provide even heating. So, if you place your favorite recliner or a sofa over the register, you’re limiting the flow of heat. It’s like leaving the vent partially or completely closed. To cut heating costs, arrange your room so that the register is as unobstructed as possible.
These are just a few examples of low cost to no cost options on conserving energy. For more information, contact James Benson at Marshfield Utilities, 715-387-1195.
