Helpful hints for lowering your energy bill

Daylight Savings Time has ended, and the thermometer is constantly showing lower temperatures. With November now upon us, residents of Southern Illinois are looking for ways to stay warm without dealing with a sky-high energy bill.

Jerry Hunt, owner of Cannan Heating and Cooling in Harrisburg said that the biggest mistake that homeowners make when struggling through the winter is not maintaining their furnace.

"Furnaces that are over 20 years old are 50-60% efficient," Hunt said. "40-50 cents of every dollar you [homeowners] are spending is going out the window."

Hunt advised homeowners to look into purchasing newer, more high-efficiency equipment, as a newer furnace tends to be 90% effective.

Hunt also offered some less-costly methods for lowering utility bills, such as;

• Changing furnace filters every season. Depending on the home environment, homeowners can even change filters on a more frequent basis.

• When decorating for Christmas, using LED lighting will help to save costs. "LEDs make up for a fraction of the cost of older incandescent bulbs," said Hunt.

• Changing the temperature on a water heater will save "pennies", said Hunt, but it's an option that homeowners can explore when looking for places to save money.

In addition to offering ways to lower a utility bill, Hunt also advised homeowners to frequently check their carbon monoxide detectors.

"Carbon monoxide is silent and odorless," Hunt said. "There will be a death or two every winter in Southern Illinois from carbon monoxide, thanks to furnaces that aren't running right."

Those looking for more advice on saving money on energy bills this fall and winter can visit the Department of Energy's website, http://www.energy.com/energysaver/fall-and-winter-energy-saving-tips, for more information.