CenterPoint offers tips to cut energy costs during fall

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With fall already here and winter weather just around the corner, CenterPoint Energy is sharing tips to help customers save energy and their hard-earned money.

“As the season changes, we encourage our customers to take steps to increase the energy efficiency of their homes to stay comfortable inside year-round while also reducing energy use,” said Mike Roeder, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at CenterPoint. “By taking some easy actions, customers can make a big difference in reducing monthly energy bills.”

CenterPoint Energy says customers can follow these tips to save money and energy as the weather changes:

Verify your furnace and boiler are working:

Stock Image of repairman working on furnace (Adobe Stock)

Before using your furnace or boiler for the first time this season, CenterPoint recommends having a qualified technician visit your home to perform a tune-up and system inspection.

Change or clean filters in HVAC system:

According to CenterPoint, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature accounts for approximately 50% of a home’s energy use. If your HVAC system’s filters haven’t been cleaned in a while, this could cause your home energy bill to increase as your system isn’t working properly.

CenterPoint said regular maintenance on your home’s HVAC system is the best way to extend the system’s life.

Keep a comfortable temperature indoors year round:

Use weather stripping or caulk in areas around your home to prevent air from leaking in or out of your home.

CenterPoint recommends using these around windows and doors where air from the outside could enter the home.

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Save hot water while maintaining comfort:

FILE – Water flows from a shower head on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Showering can account for 40 percent of your home’s hot water usage. That’s why Center Point recommends using energy-saving showerheads and faucet aerators that can help lower energy costs and reduce hot water usage without sacrificing comfort.

Upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances and equipment:

FILE – General Electric light bulbs are displayed in a supermarket April 5, 2021 in New York. The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs. Rules finalized by the Energy Department will require manufacturers to sell energy-efficient lightbulbs, accelerating a longtime industry practice to use compact fluorescent and LED bulbs that last 25 to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and equipment can help customers save big on their next energy bill.

CenterPoint Energy said when replacing appliances and equipment in your home, look for ENERGY STAR®-certified products for increased energy efficiency and cost savings over time.

Visit CenterPoint’s online Energy Efficiency Store:

“Regardless of season, at CenterPoint, we have tips, tools and programs to help customers save energy and manage their bills,” said Roeder.

CenterPoint offers a variety of discounted products through its online Energy Efficiency Store that can help customers save money when buying new products.

You can visit the store here.