20 Ways to Save Money on Heat this Winter

18. Wash clothes in cold water. Save the fuel costs to heat you and your family, not water for clothes that can be cleaned in cold water. 19. Check the fireplace. When the fireplace is not in use and the damper is left open, warm air escapes out the chimney. Make sure the seal on the damper is in good condition and close it tightly when the fireplace is not in use. While warmer-than-average temperatures are predicted for much of the central part of the nation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says variability is the key to this season’s forecast. (c) NOAA graphic 20. Turn down the thermostat. Wear layers and slippers. Experts say one percent on heating bills can be saved with each degree the thermostat is set back if the setback period is at least eight hours. The National Institutes of Health, however, does advise that seniors set their thermostats for at least 68 to 70 degrees in the winter and that babies should sleep in rooms at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.. Energy Cost Predictions for this Winter While homeowners can reduce their energy needs this winter, they can’t control prices or the weather. Here’s a look at some predictions. Fuel prices. World economic conditions have sent fuels prices on a wild ride. In October, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted double-digit hikes in residential heating fuels. By November 12, it revised its forecast because the economic turndown had led to substantial price reductions. The EIA now says it expects an average of $1,004 per household for heating this winter, a 1.4 percent average increase. There can be some wide variations, however, depending on the region of the country. EIA has forecast average winter heating expenditures and the percent of change from last winter for various energy sources: Natural gas: $889 per household, 3.6 percent increase Heating oil: $1,694 per household, 13.3 percent increase Propane: $1,544 per household, 8.1 percent decrease Electricity: $943 per household, 9.5 percent increase Winter weather. Weather forecasting is not exact and the predictions reflect that. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center predicts warmer-than-average temperatures for much of the central part of the nation. It noted that the absence of La Nina and El Nino in the equatorial Pacific Ocean this season has made predicting weather patterns increasingly challenging. Instead, other climate patterns over the Arctic and North Atlantic regions may play a significant role in influencing U.S. winter weather. “These patterns are only predictable a week or two in advance and could persist for weeks at a time,” said Michael Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center, in a November 20 press release. “Therefore, we expect variability or substantial changes in temperature and precipitation across much of the country.” Here are some regional outlooks: Northeast and mid-Atlantic: Equal chances for above-, near- or below-average temperatures and precipitation. Southeast: Increased chance of above average temperatures in central and western parts and below-average precipitation. Central: Increased chance of warmer-than-average temperatures. Above-average precipitation in parts of the central Plains. Western: Equal chances for above-, near- or below-average temperatures. Enhanced likelihood of below-average precipitation across parts of Southwest. Alaska: Milder than average except along southern coast. Equal chances for above-, near-, or below-average precipitation. Hawaii: Above-average temperatures for eastern Hawaii and below-average temperatures for western Hawaii. Equal chances for above-, near- or below-average precipitation. The Farmers’ Almanac announced in August that it was forecasting below-average temperatures for at least two-thirds of the country this winter. At AccuWeather.com, Joe Bastardi, chief long-range forecaster, announced in October that he expects one of the coldest winters in years across much of the East. In a press release, Bastardi says the overall colder and snowier winter will be off to a cold start in December with perhaps the roughest winter month for much of the nation. It may finish with another cold spell in late January and February, he says.

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