Heating Your Home Efficiently > Conservation Ideas
Conservation Ideas - Sixty Energy Saving Tips - Facts From Fiction - The Truth About Oil Prices
Higher Energy Prices Call for Using Less -
and We're Here to Help!
When energy prices soar in New York State, your local Oilheat dealers suffer right along with you. We want you to know that when crude oil prices rise dramatically, we must also pay those much higher prices to buy the heating oil you need.
Although we can't stop the rising cost of crude oil or the growing demand globally for oil, we can offer some relief for our customers. The U.S. Department of Energy, in cooperation with Oilheat marketers and equipment manufacturers, has supported improvements in the efficiency and technology of Oilheat equipment, saving consumers over $6 billion. Further improvements in heating oil have benefited our environment.
Better Equipment: Advanced combustion equipment utilizes vaporizing technologies and high flow atomization burner concepts to reduce harmful emissions. Flame retention burners draw in less air and produce a hotter, more energy-efficient flame. Thermo-photo-voltaics (TPV) use radiation from flames to generate electric power for the home. Self-diagnostic and monitoring equipment alerts homeowners and Oilheat dealers to potential problems.
Better Fuel: The Oilheat industry is presently introducing and delivering a new and improved home heating fuel that not only surpasses earlier heating efficiency, but surpasses environmental performance as well. The industry has dramatically reduced the amount of sulfur in the fuel from over 1% in 1970 to an average of .25% today. Many dealers have gone further and are marketing .05% sulfur fuel. Low sulfur content fuel reduces air pollutant emissions and the need for vacuum cleaning of heat transfer surfaces on equipment.
It has been estimated that using this low-sulfur fuel could save American consumers as much as 50 million gallons of fuel each year. And less consumption translates directly into lower heating bills.
We Want To Help You To Save Energy!
It may not sound like any way to run a business, but we want you to use less of the product we sell. When your burner is running at peak efficiency and your fuel consumption is minimized, we know we're doing a great job. That's why we offer top quality equipment and comprehensive service plans to make sure your system is in great working condition.
- Have a professional tune-up performed by an ESPA certified technician to make sure your Oilheating system is operating at peak efficiency. This alone could help you save as much as 10% OFF your annual fuel bill. It can also uncover the need for parts that need replacing and help you to avoid an emergency service call in the middle of a cold winter night. This annual service is included free of charge with most service plans.
Click here for more information about service plans.
- Ask your Oilheat dealer about upgrading to a new, high-efficiency heating system. If your equipment is at least 15 years old, you could cut your fuel bills by up to 30% by upgrading.
Click here for more information about upgrading.
- Install a programmable thermostat. These "smart" devices automatically adjust room temperature settings to energy-saving levels when you're sleeping or away from home, eliminating wasteful energy usage. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that a homeowner can save approximately 10 percent per year on heating and cooling costs by setting temperatures back 10 to 15 percent of the comfort level eight hours each day.
- Weatherize your home with weather-stripping around doors and windows and insulation in crawl spaces and the attic. Seal air leaks on the exterior of your home with caulking. Install storm windows and doors. Insulate your water heater and hot water pipes. Seal and insulate ducts. Replace old windows or apply clear plastic film.
- Buy ENERGY STAR-RATED appliances. By choosing ENERGY STAR for every application in your home, you can save up to 30 percent on your heating and hot water expenses. Ask your dealer about new ENERGY STAR boilers, furnaces and programmable thermostats!
Sources for all conservation information:
U.S. Dept. of Energy, National Oilheat Research Aliance, Alliance to Save Energy, Consumer Energy Council of America.
