In last month’s column, we discussed what can influence electric and energy bills. Remember that the first place we looked was outside temperature, measured in “degree days.” Cold periods are measured in “heating-degree days” or HDD for short. A degree day is determined by subtracting the mean daily temperature from 65 degrees F. Thus, a winter day when the mean temperature is 40 would produce 25 HDDs (65 degrees minus 40 degrees).

Higher HDD totals mean you use more energy to maintain your home at a comfortable level. Fortunately for Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative members, early winter in Southeast Ohio was relatively mild with lower HDD totals than the previous year. This equated into generally lower electric bills for December, 2006, compare to the previous December.

A comparison of HDDs is a good place to start when trying to understand how temperature and energy costs are related. HDD information localized to states and cities can be readily obtained from several sources, including the National Weather Service’s daily and monthly climate reports (available on-line at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rlx/).

A good idea is to save your utility bill stubs and compare kilowatt-hour (or natural gas) usage to the monthly degree-day totals. You will begin to see the impact of HDD – or in the summer, cooling-degree days (CDD) – on energy costs.

However, other factors can come into play. We don’t have to experience extended below-zero temperatures to see high bills. In certain weather conditions – cold, damp, and windy, for example – people feel less comfortable and might turn up their heating system thermostats. This is how “energy behavior” can produce higher bills, even when HDD totals don’t indicate frigid temperatures..

I’ve mentioned energy behavior several times. This is another important factor influencing the dollars you spend to be comfortable in your home. Energy behavior is one of the easiest things to change. It simply takes willpower, or in the case of families, a consensus.

For example, people in the same house might quibble about the thermostat setting. Mom is always cold, but the kids think it’s too hot in the house. They play with the thermostat like it was a yo-yo. The best compromise is to keep the setting at between 68-72 degrees, a comfort zone in which most folks can find a niche by either adding or removing a sweater or sweatshirt. By not twiddling with the thermostat and causing your heating system to work overtime to catch up, you’ll save energy dollars and reduce arguments.

One of the things I often hear is: “This room is too hot, so I close the vent registers.” Again, this is a reaction caused by energy behavior, not common sense. Closing the registers means your system is heating air that has no place to go. You might be wasting energy dollars instead of saving. HVAC systems and associated ductwork are designed to take advantage of paths of air circulation and return in order to work most efficiently. Completely closing or blocking off registers doesn’t mean your heating system uses less energy; it simply means you are not taking advantage of the air that’s already been warmed. Use the thermostat to achieve a desired comfort level, or get advice from an HVAC professional on whether the vent registers are properly sized and located.

Ditto for water heater settings: energy behavior often dictates the temperature of your shower or bath water. You might prefer a scalding hot soak every night, but this uses more energy. Turn the water heater thermostat down to save money.

How long do you shower? Teenagers are known for showering until the water heater can no longer keep the temperature level constant. Draining all the hot water out of a tank means more energy consumption and higher bills. Try to get your teens to modify their energy behavior by taking shorter showers. Combined with lower water heater thermostat settings, you ought to save money.

Next Month – “Grab your gun… caulk gun, that is!”