National Grid Offers Efficiency Tips

NATIONAL GRID (08/18/2010)(readMedia)-- With autumn just around the corner, National Grid reminds its customers to identify areas around the home in need of energy efficiency enhancements before colder weather sets in. Small improvements such as replacing caulking around windows and doors not only saves money on gas and electricity costs, but also helps customers get the best value out of their heating and cooling equipment.

Additional Energy Efficiency Tips for the Fall and Winter Months:

  • Proper insulation in your attic can reduce inefficient air leaks, keeping cold air out and heat in during the winter, and hot air out and air conditioning in during the summer. Attic insulation can also help your home to heat more evenly, eliminating "hot" or "cold" patches.
  • Picking up as few as five CFL or LED bulbs to replace your non-fluorescents could save you as much as $60 per year.
  • To save on both water heating and water, install a low-flow showerhead in your bathroom(s). Easily installed with a wrench or pliers, a low-flow showerhead can cut water use by as much as 50 percent.
  • Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees or less for normal use, and lower the setting whenever you will be away from home for extended periods. For every 10 degrees you set back your water heater temperature, you can cut energy use 3 to 5 percent. Reducing your water heater temperature also reduces the risk of scalding.
  • Lowering the temperature in unoccupied spaces is a common energy saving measure. As little as two to three degrees can make a big difference in savings.
  • If you often come home to a house with uncomfortably hot or cold temperatures, avoid turning up the heat or air conditioning to its highest setting. Doing so does not change the temperature any more quickly, and you will end up wasting energy and money.
  • Consider investing in new efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR® appliances are designed to run more efficiently and will help to save money on your long-term utility bills.

National Grid has a 20-year track record of partnering with its customers to provide successful, award-winning efficiency programs in its U.S. service territory. In addition, National Grid recently challenged its customers to pledge to reduce their energy consumption by three percent every year for the next ten years. Customers can sign a pledge; participate in a free energy evaluation; and learn more about the company's energy efficiency programs at www.powerofaction.com.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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